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"And now for the rest of the story": Recently a reader wrote in about their fake ID experience, as follows: "On another note yes, when I first moved to California I was 18 and I needed to get a fake drivers license for gainful employment. Back then easy to get and yes I got a great job as a bartender when I was under age so I can was able to make the big bucks and afford to live in California!"
A few days ago, we ran into the ex-bartender's spouse, and got the rest of this story. They did meet in a bar, and started dating. After a few months, the bartender called and said: "Come over to my place; there's something we need to talk about". Now, when your main squeeze tells you that, you know the conversation is probably not going to be a lot of fun.
The spouse went over to the bartender's place, anticipating the bad news that their relationship was over. But no. What the bartender told him was that she was not 23 (per her fake ID), as she had told him when they first met at the bar, but only 19, and she felt she had to come clean. He was very relieved to get this news, and it was fine by him. They have been married for about 30 years now.
Tuesday, February 16: Today, I looked back at my diary entry for this date last year (2020). Our friends and former next-door-neighbors in Studio City, Tony and Analee, held a lovely Sunday brunch at their house. (Tony and Analee still live there on Cantura Street; we moved away in 1997. Tony's older sister Deanne fixed Nadine up with a blind date in 1960; that date turned out to be Nadine's first husband, Darryl.)
February 16, 2020, was a beautiful California winter day; sunny and cool and clear. It was a great brunch: some old friends, some new acquaintances; champagne, great food, fun and interesting conversation. One of those parties which you hate to see come to end.
When I look back now on that brunch, what jumps into my mind is the Titanic. (A stretch of an analogy, I know, and the time scales are quite different.). But, on that day in February 2020, we were sailing along, having fun, enjoying life, with only a few concerns about our future, or so we thought.
Sure, POTUS45 was still in office, but we could look forward to that ending in less than a year; little did we realize then how close that iceberg would come to downing our ship. And yes, climate change still needed to be addressed; after forest fires and tropical storms and winter calamities, we see much more clearly that iceberg is getting closer and closer every day. And, yes, the coronavirus had been announced in China, but it seemed remote and containable. I don't remember it being discussed at all that day.
Now, a year later, we barely dodged a POTUS45-incitied challenge, climate change is wreeking havoc over wide swaths of America, and we are still living under COVID restrictions with the worldwide death toll in the millions.
Thursday, February 18: Got our 2nd shots at The Forum. Much like our first shots. In and out in about 75 minutes. Although the lines of cars were long, the whole process was well organized and moved along well. I have not had any significant side effects since; Nadine's arm was sore for about a day or two. It feels as if we were just issued our "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards.
Saturday, February 20: Went to the community garden to see how my winter crop was fairing: cabbage, chard, potatoes, lettuce; all doing well. Ran into fellow gardeners Susan and Jefferson there. I had never met Jefferson before, and Nadine had not met either of them. The four of us had a kind of get-to-know-you chat....all with masks on and six-feet distances. Afterward, I felt appreciation that we had actually talked to real people in real life for a few minutes. So unusual these days.
Friday, February 26: Our first excursion to the grocery stores in about two months; Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Early "seniors" hours for us, and double-masked. Very uncrowded. Nadine very happy to pick out her own fruits and veggies. Me very happy to get TJ's hummus and tabouli.
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