Roscoe's on Lake Avenue

Pasadena, CA 12.22.21

Tired and hungry; mostly hungry 

Dreading the long drive home

Traffic will be worse if I stop for lunch

Long list of things to do this afternoon

Just eat this Tupperware snack and drive

.

On the radio: eat well to reduce stress 

.

I will go to Lemonade; order a salad plate

But my car turns into another parking lot

Worn booths, Christmas decorations

Heads bobbing to old hip hop music 

Number twenty two comes with chicken

.

Collard greens and cornbread, macaroni and cheese

Were all I could think about at work

Sitting by myself, armoring up for the holiday 

Possibly the best twenty dollars I’ve ever spent

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I’d like to thank author, Angelina Saenz, for inspiring me to write and post a poem. I bought her recent book of poetry, Edgecliff, and it is like no other poetry I’ve ever read. It’s important and beautiful. I hope you will buy yourself a copy.

Sra. Saenz was my children’s teacher for kindergarten. She is a remarkable person.

Living in Los Angeles seems ridiculous a lot of the time. There are way too many cars and probably even too many people. But, among those struggling to make it in LA are incredibly talented artists, full of ambition and determination. While living in the heart of the city for 14 years I made friends with award-winning performers, producers, editors, painters, and actors; comedians, writers, and even sculptors.

Abira Ali is another remarkable person I got to know in Highland Park. When I saw her paintings in little one-inch squares on instagram I wanted to jump inside!

Here’s one in my house now: (it still needs a frame. What color frame would you choose?)

“Summer in the city” by Abira Ali

I guess I’m buy-myself-lunch-and-a-painting-for-Christmas years old now. Feels pretty good.

Thanks for reading; I really appreciate it.