California – Page 79 – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Nature’s Prayer Moment

November 22, 2019November 21, 2019 Posted in birds, California, church, friends, gardening, humor, memoir, nature, relationships, religion, writersLeave a comment

(re-run) Yesterday morning I stepped up to the kitchen sink to fill the tea pot and looked out my window at the flowers exploding in my yard. I glanced over to the fountain where I saw dozens of identical birds taking drinks in a clumped up circle around the top of my round fountain. Their… Continue reading Nature’s Prayer Moment

Butt Dials and Other My-Bads

November 15, 2019 Posted in Aspen, best, California, Colorado, humor, last, memoir, nerds, phone call, phone numbers, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) I had lunch with my son today. We were trying to figure out why I’d used up all my storage on my cell phone. He took a look, handed back my phone, and watched me put it in my pocket. “You need to hit the button on the side and turn off your screen,”… Continue reading Butt Dials and Other My-Bads

A Victoria’s Secret Box with Dinner

November 14, 2019November 13, 2019 Posted in California, cars, dating, dinner, dumping someone, family, gambling, humor, last, lingerie, meet and greet, NFL, online dating, relationships, RenoLeave a comment

(re-run) Saundra met Duke online on Match. They agreed to meet at Scott’s Seafood restaurant for dinner. When she got there, he was already seated and waved her over. As she approached the table she noticed a dozen lavender roses in a vase. She remembered that Duke had asked her favorite color. As she sat… Continue reading A Victoria’s Secret Box with Dinner

The Contractor and the Jet Setter

November 13, 2019 Posted in best, California, cars, chemistry, firsts, high heels, humor, jet setter, last, meet and greet, relationships, travelLeave a comment

It was Tom the contractor’s umpteenth date on Match. The woman was from the same affluent town, was the same height as he was, and was ready to meet him at Bridges, the hot spot downtown with the best happy hour. But when Ellen walked in, she had on three inch heels and towered over… Continue reading The Contractor and the Jet Setter

Don’t Get a Sun Burn

November 12, 2019 Posted in airforce, California, dating, humor, military, Monterey Bay, relationships, travelLeave a comment

You think you know someone. You’ve sat across from your brother in law at countless holiday meals. You raised your kids together, although far enough away that you only saw them four or five times a year. You know George loves Monterey, but you didn’t know the whole story. You knew he’d been in the… Continue reading Don’t Get a Sun Burn

The Ultimate Sacrifice

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 Posted in airforce, army, best, bomber, California, crew, Himalayas, Hiroshima, Japan, Kobe, last, memoir, mission, POW, relationships, ultimate sacrifice, World War II, worstLeave a comment

What do you do when World War II, the one that killed your big brother or the uncle that you never knew, has been over for almost 75 years? When you find out that your niece has always wanted to know the story? When you learn that your aunt has twenty years of research and… Continue reading The Ultimate Sacrifice

Long-playing Ski Buddies

November 9, 2019 Posted in best, California, car pool, dating, flirting, humor, marriage, nature, relationships, skiingLeave a comment

(re-run) Ellen was in charge of the ski cabin for the In Skiers in San Mateo. Mark joined the Powder Hounds even though he was just a beginner. Mark called Ellen to arrange for a room in the InSkiers cabin. Ellen had a cold and sounded like Lauren Bacall when she answered. Mark liked that.… Continue reading Long-playing Ski Buddies

Airbnb Tragedy on Halloween

November 8, 2019 Posted in airbnb, California, deejay, Halloween, hoodlums, mansion, Orinda, party, relationships, Uncategorized5 Comments

Some mornings I wake up with a burning desire to vent, on paper. Today is such a morning. Eight days ago, five young black people were murdered at a Halloween party at an Airbnb rental in an upscale (mostly white) town near here called Orinda. Orinda is the last mostly-white suburb before the Caldecott tunnel… Continue reading Airbnb Tragedy on Halloween

Joe Average

November 8, 2019 Posted in California, dating, dinner, divorce, humor, online dating, relationships, restaurant, worstLeave a comment

Emily met Joe on Match. They both liked the Giants. They both lived in Livermore, although he worked in Alameda and had to get up early at 4:00 a.m. for his job. Joe made an exception to stay up late one night so he could meet Emily for dinner. Emily had looked forward to meeting… Continue reading Joe Average