Quick trip to LA to see family.
Once again, Scott and I had an awesome seatmate on the flight. When they introduced themself as Karma, I told them that was a great name, and then used that as a diving board to jump into MY name. They started laughing when I introduced myself as “Karen,” and I knew I had a new friend. When I told Karma that I try to have fun with my name and incorporate it into my schtick, their eyes lit up at the word “schtick.” They love schticks.
As Karma and I got to chatting, I mentioned that I’d started a religion called Humoristianity (the one true fallacious faith), and talked a little about all the cool people I’d met from all different religions and non-religions through Humoristianity. When I mentioned founding a religion, Karma said, “No way!”
Karma, it turned out, had founded an ACTUAL religion called Trash Church. Here’s a link to the Trash Church website: https://www.trashchurch.org/about/
Karma was so fun. They talked about creating these gigantic crab legs and then finding people to wear the crab legs across the skybridge in Seattle. They talked about some of the escapades they’ve gotten into at Burning Man in the past. They talked about “shenanigans” and many way cool “schticks.” I found a kinship in Karma.
After our plane landed, we needed to board a shuttlebus to get to our rental car. The shuttle bus was packed, and all the rails for holding onto were way above my reach. I voiced this to Scott, and this man down the way overheard me and said to his young son, “Levi, could you give your seat to the woman?” Levi immediately got out of his seat, but I said, “Oh no, no! You don’t need to do that.” And then I realized that this was an opportunity for Levi to do something nice for me, and it would be ungracious to not allow this for him. So I thanked Levi profusely and took his seat.
When I sat down, the people around me were looking at me and smiling, and I, of course, had to break the moment. So I said, “I have now become the little old lady that people give their seats to!” And everyone started laughing.
When we got to the rental car place, we all deboarded and wished each other safe travels. I called over to young Levi and thanked him again, and he smiled and nodded his head.
When I sat down on a bench to wait for Scott to get the paperwork for our rental car, another young man who had been on the shuttlebus with me opened up conversation with me. He told me his name was Henry, and he was out here from Alabama in hopes of getting into The Masters University.
Henry told me he wanted to study Bible languages and become a professor one day. And then we talked about the Bible for a while. We both agreed that it’s an historical document. I said for me it showed the evolution of human thought from belief in a wrathful angry god to a God who is literally Love. Henry felt the beginning of the Bible showed an ignorance of God because Jesus hadn’t yet arrived to show us how to love our neighbors, and “turn the other cheek.”
Henry said he came from a pretty homogeneous community in Alabama, and was looking forward to the diversity he would find at the university. I told him that was one of the best parts of my own university experience – meeting people from all different backgrounds, and experiences. Henry nodded his head enthusiastically. He understood.
When I told Henry I’d been a teacher, he told me I had the “countenance” of a teacher – which is maybe one of the best compliments anyone could give me.
It was a long wait, but we finally got our rental car and drove to our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter’s home in Venice.
When we’d visited Venice last summer, Christina, my daughter-in-law, had introduced me to Gonzo. Gonzo sells jewelry made by women from his native country of Kenya. Gonzo just exudes love out of every pore. I talked about meeting Gonzo in my latest book, Cosmic Treasure Hunt, and brought a copy with me to give to him.
So one of the first things Scott and I did when we arrived, was take a trip out to Venice Beach with our little granddaughter, Linh, to see if we could find Gonzo. We found him! There he is in the photo below holding my book. It was so good to see him again!
Scott’s sister, Bev, and brother-in-law, Matt, are out here from Pittsburgh to visit their daughter and her family. Last night all nine of us – three children, and six bigger people – walked to the Alma Oaxaquena Restaurant for dinner. Alex, who took our order, was fantastic! I’d planned to pay for my half of the family, but Matt – as he always does – beat me to the punch, and told Alex he was paying for everybody. I looked at Alex, and pointed to Matt, and said, “That man! He always does this!” Alex started laughing. Then there was a choice – should I get two small tacos or one large one? Alex pointed out I could get two different types of protein if I got two tacos. “But it would be a dollar more. Should I do that to him?” I asked, pointing to Matt. Both Matt and Alex laughed and nodded their heads and agreed I should.
Of course, I had to get Alex’s picture for his patience with me.
