I have never been to Los Angeles and Stacey only once, 35 years ago. So this was to be a full tourist trip - seeing the sights, breathing the air, feeling the feel of what it's like to be and live in L.A. But, like everyone else, there are often family and friends that have to be visited and, often, that's a thankless task. Not so for us. We have wonderful and interesting people to see out here and a whole section of my family who moved out here in 1949 who I have only recently rediscovered.
Friday evening , after our long walking tour of the Downtown area, we had made up with my cousin Jay and his wife, Beverly to meet them at a restaurant in Studio City. That location allowed us to discover the joys of using L.A.'s notorious freeways. We had to travel northwest from the center city to reach the restaurant. It was only 19 miles but it took us a good hour on the clogged 101.
Jay moved out to L.A. in the 70's and has been here ever since. Here he met Beverly (at a laundromat!) and they've raised two girls: Kenya and Lyric. Only Kenya was able to join us for dinner along with her parents. Of course, Lynn and Mike came with us as well. Mike is trying to break into the film industry and Jay, who tried his hand as a cameraman for many years and is now a lawyer, would be a good source of information.
Dinner was lovely at a restaurant dubbed The Good Earth. Conversation was lively and we re-established long last connections. I hadn't seen Jay and Beverly for 10 years - the last time they came east. That was when his father, Seymour, passed away. Seymour was my mom's brother and the husband of my aunt Sissy, who lives in Brooklyn and who Stacey and I are very fond of. (I hope she's reading this).
After dinner, we parted ways, hoping to have enough time to see each other again before our trip ended. But many other family members call and there are old friends out here as well. And then, we have to see the sights also! What are busy travellers to do?
Tomorrow, Saturday, we rediscover the long lost cousins: Muriel and Susan and the rest of their cabal. Then at night, dinner with my dear old friends, Matty and Maya. Stay tuned.
A family reunion at The Good Earth restaurant in Studio City.
Now Kenya and I have joined the reunion photo as well. L-R: Stacey Mike, Beverly, Matthew, Kenya and Jay.
Everyone back home - meet the lovely Kenya!
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