Southern California Peril

Sometimes we like to joke about California's four seasons: fire, flood, mud, and drought, but there was nothing funny about the fact that last week the fire came within one block of our home. A shift in the wind and I wouldn't be sitting in my home office right now. Within a five-mile radius of our home, over 25,000 acres were burned. It took 3,700 firefighters to deal with this disaster. Over 250 homes were destroyed or damaged. Miraculously, there were only seven injuries, no deaths reported. We don't take for granted the people who keep us safe. God bless the firefighters, police force and highway patrol, and others who put their lives on the line to save our property and more importantly, our lives.

There's nothing like a peril such as this to put our priorities in order. When you're planning an evacuation, and say you only have 20 minutes, you go for the mementos and important papers, birth certificates, deeds, etc. (unless you already have those in your safety deposit box at the bank). Material things really don't matter. We know that, but this really brings it home. This has really made my job
of decluttering much easier. As a self-professed pack rat (I inherited the gene from my dad), I put too much emotional attachment into things. When I try to analyze it (and why would I take the time to do that unless I really thought it would help cure me), I rationalize that it's because I lost my family early in life. Now, I tell myself that the clothes I'm giving away will help a family who lost everything in the fire. It may be a coincidence that we received two give-away bags for charity drives within one week after the fire.

Although we all are busy with our everyday lives, this does bring us closer to our neightbors. We're all breathing a sigh of relief. It's stressful just being on alert for two days. After a time-out, I've reactivated posting in my gratitude journal. We feel blessed. Excuse me while I write a check to one of the many local charities who will help victims of this tragedy. If you want to help, the Red Cross is a good place to start.

"The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention."

Mystery Party

My friend, Peggy, organizes mystery parties both here and in Ohio once a year.
It's a leap of faith to sign up for one of these things, because you never know who will show up, where you're going, what to wear (although she usually gives you a hint), and exactly what you'll be doing for the next several hours.

Last year, we ended up decorating the Burbank Rose Parade float. It was November... in the early stages of the preparation. It was quite interesting to see the wire mesh work and the internal machinations of the float. We cut dry flowers for a few hours. Doesn't sound too exciting, but it was fun to chat and realize that the flowers would end up somewhere on the float January 1 in the parade.

This year we were told to wear something black. About 26 people showed up at the designated location to carpool to our final destination. But first, you have to guess where you'll be going. If you have no idea, you can just put down something you'd like to do in the future. That's how Peggy gets her ideas. No one guessed our mystery venue.

I must have passed Hollywood Forever Cemetery a zillion times on my way to Paramount Studios. Well, actually, I was just passing there too. This vastly immaculately landscaped cemetery, boasting mausoleums, exhibitions, monuments and gardens was the venue for the 9th annual celebration of Dia de Los Muertos MMVIII. Don't ask me to translate. I only know that muertos means death or some derivation of it.

This annual celebration held on the religious "All Saints Day" allows one to partake of various sacred ceremonial tributes and memorable altar creations on the ground.
Actually, the altars were unbelievably elaborate and colorful. The place was packed with people in masks, skeletal costumes, etc. At this year's celebration they danced and sung in memory of Julian Trace Posada, known as "Happy Feet," 2006 - 2008.

To make things even more interesting at this final resting place for many Hollywood stars, Peggy organized us into two teams and sent us on a scavenger hunt. This is one great way to cover the grounds in a short period of time (well, actually, we had an hour to do it, and we needed every bit of it). Some headstones dated as far back as the Civil War. Rudolph Valentino is buried there, as well. It was quite interesting walking among the many imposing tall old headstones and towering monuments. Many had large pictures of the deceased imposed on the stone.

Johnny Ramones' cool grave site (guitar in hand) was on our list, as was Mel Blanc's ("That's All Folks!") We never did find Estelle Getty's resting place nor were we able to enter the mausoleum where Bugsy Siegal is entombed. I guess it was only fitting that the beautiful weather we had been having took a hiatus while it sprinkled and was overall a bit dreary while we were there.

If you're at all interested in finding out who's who in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located next to Paramount Studios, check out Tony Scott's book, "The Stars of Hollywood Forever."

Does Peggy know how to throw a party or what! I'm in for next year.

"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."
Tallulah Bankhead