The Girl that Saved the World from Boredom
Super Darla is a super hero you may have never heard of but she is real. She saves the world from boredom. She will fly in any time boredom appears to wipe it out. She moves fast. You will need to keep your eyes open and alert for her.
Be aware of her quick speed and quick smile. It will eliminate the blues and bring good cheer to all
Super Darla on alert, waiting for the next project
She can jump. She can fly.
She can sit. What beautiful golden Super Darla hair she has.
Super Darla inspects for danger
Super Darla in a Tree
With her Dad.
Super Darla is Mysterious
We’ll see you soon Super Darla.
Will you eat Chocolate Ice Cream with Me Frank?
Darla wanted to get Ice Cream. So I agreed to take her. Her favorite flavor is Chocolate. She said, “Frank will you eat Chocolate Ice Cream with Me?. And then she said, “When we go, you are going to hold my hand to walk there.” This was a picture, after we had eaten the Ice Cream. She was trying to climb over a wall.
Letters to Bill
I got home and found an envelope filled with letters on my coffee table. They were old letters, some of them typed and some of them handwritten. The letters were ones that Bill had saved for years and was dropping them off so I could have a look. Some of them were written by me and some written by my sister Mary.
The letters were written between 1980 and 1984. We were in High School, Bill had just left for College. The letters reveal the funny, the awkward and at times touching side of growing up. Seeing and feeling the letters brings back memories and a bit of nostalgia. Does anyone “hand type” a letter to brother and send it anymore. I doubt it.
The Most Valuable Citizen Award
The first letter, hand-typed by my mom’s old electric 19070’s typewriter reveals that Bill has won the award for most valuable citizen of Chula Vista after being nominated by Mike Keegan. His award? A pair of brown cords (a favorite of my Dad), or A weekend at home or County Prison (whichever her prefers)
Typing Talents
Another letter, again hand-typed was obviously me trying to show off my barely capable typing talents. I sign-off quickly, not because I am a terrible typer but because Bill wouldn’t want to read a letter from some “Stupid Kid” as I put it.
Letters from Saint Anthony’s Seminary
The letters really ramped up in volume apparently when I headed off to boarding school. I remember wanting to go to boarding school so bad. I got there and the only thing I wanted to do was go home.
I do remember writing the letters which were long and went on and on. I was homesick and the letters were a way of being back home.
In this letter I write, “I am still trying to figure out if I will stay here all year”. But that was a lie because I had already called my Dad several times begging to come back home and that was not an option. I was going to stay the whole year, period.
Are you almost a brown belt Bill? I asked him that in this letter. He went on to become a Black Belt in the coming years.
I’m up to benching 80 pounds now! I thought this would make him proud of me. I inform him that there are a lot of Low Riders in the school. And again, I subtly ask if he would ever be possibly interested in visiting me.. perhaps?
Frank is Acting Just Like You
This one is from Mary. She gives Bill a back-handed compliment by informing that, “Frank is trying to act just like you- You’re his hero. He goes around lifting weights, looking at himself in the mirror and popping zits”. This was completely true. Apparently Patrick was doing the same.
A Mental LifeLine
Reading the letters brought me back to those days. It was interesting reading these letters 30 years later. I’m older now. I’m much different now, but fundamentally the same person.
I was enormously shy and lacked confidence in High School. I felt out of place almost everywhere which I suppose is common in High School. I longed to be more like Bill. He was confident, athletic and an extremely good fighter. I started lifting weights and wrestling to be more like that but deep down, I stayed skinny and a terrible fighter – perhaps the worst in San Diego history.
Through the bad times of high school Bill was always my mental lifeline. When Bill left for college, the letters were my way of staying connected to him. I always believed I survived those shy awkward years because he always made me laugh. He was my mental life-line and I am so thankful.
Oliver the Champion
He is the Champion. He won. The Battle is over. Oliver is the winner of the world.
Mabel and Me: A San Diego Boy and His Always Do Right Dog
His name is John. We call him Little John because he is tiny. And, I guess also because his dad’s name is Big John. This is the story of John and his always do right dog – Mabel. They live in San Diego.
John and Mabel are best of friends. They have been since they were both born. When John is away, Mabel waits in the window for him. “Where is Little John?”, she says.
And sometimes, when Mabel goes out for a walk with Dad, Little John sits in the window waiting for her to come home. “Where is Mabel?”, he says.
No matter where they are, they like to pretend. They always dress up when they pretend. Sometimes Little John dresses up like a cowboy.
And sometimes he makes Mabel be his horse. Just like a real cowboy has a real horse. But Mabel’s not a real horse. She just sits there. “Come on Mabel, Giddyup!” yells Little John. But still, Mabel just sits there.
Mabel likes it better when she gets to be a Warrior. Mabel say’s to herself. “I am not a horse. I am a Warrior!” And than she barks to show you she means business.
But mostly, Mabel just likes to be Mabel, the-always-do-right-dog.
And she likes to do cool dog things. Like run outside. “Running outside is a great dog thing to do!,” Mabel says. She goes outside almost everyday. A perfect day is a day outside with Little John.
She always does the right things, never the wrong things. Like always peeing in the right places. Not the wrong places.
..Or letting Little John eat her dog treats and not saying anything. “If Little John wants my dog treat. He can have my dog treat!” she says as she gazes the other way to avoid making him feel uncomfortable for stealing her biscuits.
And if anyone tries to do anything to Little John, she makes a mad face and stands like this. “No one is going to hurt Little John”, she says. And she barks again to show you she means business.
If he ever needs me, I’ll be right there for him. Because he’s always right there for me. I’m Mabel-The-Always-Do-Right-Dog.
And so that is how the story goes. Legend has it that Little John and his Dog Mabel went on to conquer the world together.
Well, even if it was at night and even if it was only in their dreams. They still did it. And they did it together. That’s all that matters to this boy and his dog.
Check out DogVacay in San Diego if you love Dogs. Its an interesting alternative to your dog sitting problems and one that looks like it’s getting a lot traction.
The Cults are back in Town
Madeline and Ryan’s group – The Cults – made another stop in San Diego. They played one of the best shows I have seen this night. The venue is an old Church called Irenic. They played on the altar.
Maddie stopped the show in the middle, ran off stage and grabbed Lucy and Mila and took them back stage. While back stage the girls opened and closed the door, waving to all the Cults Fans off stage. Then Maddie ran back on stage and sang “Go Outside”. Could it be any more perfect. Maddie was such a super star this night. Later that night, Mila explained to me how awesome it was. She was so excited, I don’t think she probably slept last night.
Thank you Maddie for a great night.
