Strike While The Irony Is Hot

Yesterday I cruised around the neighborhood of my youth. I was surprised to see signs posted for "Loma Linda Historic District".

The home of my youth is now considered to be in a historic district! Originally built out around the time my older brother was born, now it is 'historic'. They call it Mid-Century, Leave it to 20th Century Americans to label the time period that way, as if anything outside of the 20th century is irrelevant. What will happen in 2050? Perhaps they should label the period Kennedian! Bazinga! (How many kids named John or John F were born during and after the 60's? :) )  The Phoenix nesting spot that formulated my youth is now considered ''historic" enough to be labeled with a name.

The irony is not lost on me. I, similar to my 'hood, am now a relic!

This was not the only irony I faced yesterday while driving through the scenery of my youth.

On the corner of 24th and Indian School there used to be a small pharmacy. The old fashioned kind of pharmacy that actually had a small soda fountain/diner area inside. I remember by best bud used to take the pharmacy the checks he received from mowing lawns. The cashiers would cash the checks for him , which even then I thought was odd....I always cashed my checks at a bank.  I think he got in that habit because his dad was a Phoenix cop who would hang out with his friends at the diner area during slow times on the force.  Anyway, the pharmacy is no longer there,  it has been replaced by, of all things, a check cashing service. Bazinga.

Across the street was the old Tang's Market. That same buddy used to work at the market when we were in High School.  The market is gone, replaced by various strip stores. Included in the strip stores is Tang Realty. Bazinga.

Nearer to my house, the old Indian Trading Post is now a gun store. That seems more poetic justice than straight irony. "The Indians have  been chased off the site by guns".  But still.....  I loved that old Indian Trading Post. They had a Cigar Store Indian outside that was just too cool for us. Inside they had trinkets, baskets, Turquoise Jewelry, old Navajo rugs. There were arrowheads and other antiques. I did not expect the store to still be there at that same location....but somehow the Gun Store has a bit less charm.

 I had to snap this photo of the J* house on the corner of Amelia and 18th. The J* brothers were 'too cool for school' back then.  During my High School years they would have a Funny Car and a Rail parked here. Now the sign says 'No Parking'. Bazinga.  The J* brothers were friends of my oldest brother. I was too young to hang with that cool group, but sometimes I would get to hang out when they fired up one of those big powerful engines, flames firing out of the exhaust pipes. The smell of nitro burning and singeing my nostrils was exhilarating. I can still see and smell it today, 45 years later.

Across the street from the J* house used to be a big field guarded by huge pine trees. It was the old Trader Joe's abandoned horse corrals. We used to climb from tree to tree, where there were little forts and nooks hidden within the boughs. Older kids would smoke and make-out and get high...but my brothers and I would just find adventure and minor trouble.  The owner and neighbors would have loved to chased us off with guns to keep us out of there. Now, the lot is used as parking for the gun store. Bazinga.

Odd, I could not wait to get out of that old neighborhood once I became 'of age'. The house and neigbhorhood felt confined and old even then. Some hard memories of growing up in a tiny house on Amelia has long haunted me. It was not all fun and games, though we found our own adventures with friends and siblings.  At one time I dreamed about buying up our old house and burning it down,  leaving the lot as a park for the locals. But now, I think I have finally come to peace with those feelings.  After all, that old house, in that old neighborhood is Historic. Mid-Century Modern. Like me. Bazinga.


Cheers, nca.

P.S. All my brothers and sisters (there were 8 of us total) have moved out of the area, save me. To this day it seems odd that I alone represent our clan in Phoenix.  Bazinga.

Bucks Stops On A Dime

I am Uncle Buck.

Have you ever seen the John Candy film, 'Uncle Buck'?   If you have not, it is dated now, but pretty funny all the same. The John Candy character 'Uncle Buck' is now officially me. If you see the scene where he drives up to the High School in his smoking, out of tune, beat up 1975 Mercury Marquis Brougham Coupe, then you might understand what I am talking about..

Uncle Buck's niece Tia is mortified as Buck pulls up to the school. Which is not too unlike the feeling anyone driving near or with me must feel.  I recently started driving an old 1984 Buick Skylark that was once owned my by Mother in Law. It does not smoke and misfire, but it does have some other traits that put it right up with the Buck-Mobile. The engine makes a sort of clicking sound as if it needs a valve job.   Both headlights are bashed in (still working but crushed).  There is a heating knob and a radio knob missing, you have to use a pair of pliers to adjust either. Some of the windows don't roll up or down. Several warning lights are on full time. The interior is worn and messy, and there are old people add-ons like a steering wheel cover, seat covers etc.  Someone has put a sticker on the back of the Car that says 'My other Car runs on Fairy Dust'.

A few weeks back my wife asked me to stop by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for the dog. So one way home from work, I pulled into the local Walgreen's and went through the drive-through in my warn out old 'Uncle Buck' jalopy.  The motor was a clicking and a clacking. I told the clerk I was picking up some medicine, and he asked me the name of the patient. I said 'Samantha Adler' (my dog is named Samantha). The clerk clicked away at their computer and asked me "Sam's" birth date.  Dumbfounded, I told the clerk I would have to call my wife. Sitting their, reving up the car to keep it from stalling, I had to dial my wife and ask her Sam's birthday. The clerk was eyeing me as if I were an alien creature. With the birth date in hand, I was able to obtain the doggy pills. Wonderful. She was eyeing me suspiciously as I pulled away...flashing her my Fairy Dust dreams.

I've grown kind of fond of the pasty old wreck. My pride is now tweaked, and I have so far refused my wife's pleas to find something a bit newer to drive.  I refuse to lose the old clunker.

Cheers....nca

P.S. The niece, Tia...always reminded me of my middle daughter. The loser look she gives Uncle Buck with those expressive eyebrows I have seen myself many times.  And not for lack of any deserving on my part.  I used to tell my daughters that embarrassing them in public was a Father's prerogative.  :)

Empty Nest, Full Hearts

My wife jokes that her and I are both orphans. This is because our parents have each passed away now. It came upon us in a gently alternating format, therefore we each in turn were able to help the other. Her Dad, my dad, her Mom, mine. Sounds sort of like a nursery rhyme that way.

A second wave of separation has now descended upon.  as our daughters have all moved out of our house. Our youngest lives with her best friend at her parents house.  Our middle daughter has moved her family to another state. Though the oldest and previously mentioned youngest daughters live just a few miles away, we don't see them near as much as we would like.

But fear not, though our lives have changed, evolved....I believe we are ready to gracefully don our new roles as empty-nesters and 'top of the food change'.  (This is another way to say that with our parents having moved on to the next world, our turn is next).   I did not get a chance to have a whole lot of adventure in 2014 as I had envisioned...but 2015 hopefully will see more adventure and accomplishment for both my wife and I. We are already making some plans....so stay tuned.

 We also have the pugs to care for and love.  When the grand-children come to play, the playroom and the   kitchen fills with sweet noise and action.  So much more than empty, our nest is lively and active and safe and welcoming.  Both critter and grand-child know they are welcomed and wanted and loved.

I won't pretend that moving into this phase of our lives won't have it's share of difficult times.  Even now we already have times when we miss the girls and their families. We also experience sad thoughts when we remember those who have come before us and have moved on. Though our nest may be empty, our cups are very full. Though age has marked us with a few more wrinkles and some strands of grey we still have great purposes to fulfill here in this lifetime. Though our knees may be a little less sturdy and we are a bit less flexible and not quite as fast as we once were, we still have things to do, and places to go.  The Lord is not finished with the two of us yet.

Cheers, nca