By: Reiss duPlessis

You’re the type who would go out, start a riot and then go home and watch it on Television.”

This was the bottom-line assessment of me by a world famous astrologer. She was a friend, someone I liked and with whom I enjoyed fun times. I never was brave enough to tell her that I thought her astrological musing was nothing more than hogwash! Sadly, she put a lot of time and work into my reading and was very pleased with herself when she presented me with an ornate folder that housed pages and pages of charts, signs and data about me based on the time, day, month and year in which I was born. I had to admit, I thought some of the charts were, artistically, nice and I had to acknowledge the time and effort that went into it. What were all of those symbols and signs? Did she really believe all of this stuff? Of course she did. She lived by it, her big name clients lived by it and she made a good living because of their willingness to pay for her services. She probably charged large sums of money for a package like that and I got it free. I guess I was lucky.

Funny, forty five years later, I don’t know whatever happened to her. If she still alive? I don’t hear mention of her any more, but then, I no longer travel in the circles in which she lived. I know she was older then I ... how much older, only her mother knew for sure. Her age was never open to discussion. She was youthful, earthy, had a fantastic figure, long beautiful legs and red hair that surrounded her face like her own private, living picture frame that was always there to highlight her dancing green eyes and the rest of her notable features. There was no question, she was beautiful. I have no idea where that folder with my life is and I only remember that bottom line. All of that time, energy and all I remember is that line. Kinda sad, really.

However!!!! After all of these years of life and living, I have come to realize she was right!! That’s exactly who I am and someone created the Internet for me to do just that! I can forward pages and pages of political, humorous and life affirming E mails to friends around the world and then just sit and await the reactions! I love it! Wherever you are my old flame, I hope you are aware of this wonderful new world in which I still live and play!

Now that I am 'on board,' I need to keep up with current assignments. Will that happen automatically, or is there something more I should do? Thanks, Helene W.

FINDING A SOLUTION
Georgialee Granger

I was thirteen years old when I realized that, as a newcomer, being absorbed in my art wasn’t the solution to coping. Helping other newcomers find their place was. That’s when I first started planning activities for other newcomers.

While living in Calcutta, India in 1971/72 the American Women’s Club showed me how to do it as an adult. Their booklet with instructions about managing a household under a life very different from what I had known gave me the cue. Their service to the community like packaging pills for the lepers cared for by Mother Theresa showed me another way.

Living in Duesseldorf, Germany later, I asked my British and German friends to help me revise a book called Discovering Duesseldorf. We set up a courses to teach newcomers how to shop, deal with the local laws, find schools for their children, continue their education while living overseas, and finding alternatives to paid employment. We formed a weekly gathering for information exchanges with the German women called Die Bruecke ( meaning the bridge).

Moving to Geneva, Switzerland I joined the American Women’s Club where I chaired a series of courses for newcomers called Geneva for Beginners. We always had a Smiling Face at the Door of the clubhouse equipped with all manner of information to share with newcomers.

Returning to the United States after twenty-two years abroad, I joined with a partner to participate in the Welcome Wagon program in La Jolla, California

Moving to Leisure World in 1992. Husband Fred and I led fourteen neighbors in the Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness exercises.

Two years ago we moved to the Wellington Senior Residence. Here we greet newcomers and invite them to join us at meals. Now we feel more at home too.

Pictures on...sound if off. Elena and her cousin sit cross-legged on the floor sorting pictures. A cool spring breeze coming through the French door ruffles the stacks spread out before them. Louise leans forward to put a coaster on top of them when a cramp from squatting on the rug tells her it's time to take a break.

Seeing a flash from the corner of her eye Elena is drawn to the television screen. The turns up the volume..leans forward to listen. They see the crackling flames, hear commands from the fire captain, watch flames rising into the once blue sky, now smoke blotched and gray. Whatever it is, it is fully engulfed. Fire engines, police cars, swarms of people create a hectic, frantic scene.

Elene and Louise watch and wonder where and what is burning, then without tuning into the converging media reporters, push the mute button, but place themselves where they can look up now and then and witness the scene before them. They are running short of time.

Picking just the right pictures to tell the family story isn't easy. Births, lost loved ones, surprise parties, retirements, graduations, hokiday celebrations. More than one causes them to stop and swap stories..to reminisce about cousin Tommy, or Aunt Sue...making it hard to keep their mind on their job.

Louise will be going back to her husband and two boys tomorrow. They are certain these pictures will will generate a lot of memories, make for lively conversations. Some of the children will be meeting members of their extended family for the first time.

Both cousins and good friends, Elena and Louise have shared a lot. They were together all the way through high school where both were high achievers, and one time competitors for honors.

Marriage, careers and children have not come between them, but a distance of 250 miles has limited their time together.A recent heart attack suffered by Louise's dad prompted the women to think about how long it had been since they had taken the time to plan a reunion for the whole family. Now it was but a month away.

In high school, Elena was active in student government as the Commissioner of Entertainment, Louise played the flute in the orchestra as well as in the band.

They don't talk much now, but an occasional photograph takes them back. They share a memory, a tear, or a chuckle about their teen-age antics.

Elena is struck by one image in particular, and taps Louise on the
knee. In the photo Elena is behind a podium in their school auditorium, ready to introduce the contentants for the Jr., Sr. talent show. In the foreground Louise can be seen in the orchestra. For a few seconds they don't say anything, but then launch into high spirited talk about that night, the double date and the trouble they were in for getting home past curfew. Both have fond memories of the school, can still do some of the football cheers and sing their Alma Mater. "Yeah!!Go Bull Dogs!" College was great, but the best times were when they were in high school together.

"Bull Dogs...Didn't I just see that go across the bottom of the screen? Oh, my gosh, LOOK! It's our school. That's Garfield! It's BURNING! Where's that picture? The one of us on the stage?"

"That one! That's it. There we are! Oh, my gosh!"

They listen as the television reporter describes the crumbling structure. She speaks of the auditorium with the paneled ceiling, elaborate plaster crown molding, depression glass chandeliers, rounded wooden seats. This place was the heart of the community with its location in East Los Angeles where low income students once won a National Calculus competiton under the tutelage of Jaime Escalante. The film Stand and Deliver was filmed on campus.

It felt like something terrible was happening to someone they loved. They held hands as they watched their friend be reduced to ashes.

"Remember how we sat in those seats, looking up and trying to count all the lights in those green hued chandeliers? And all that paneling. It was gorgeous, just like a lot of theatres down town. They'll never be able to build it back the way it was. The announcer said it was built in 1925. How sad."

When the fire was under control, and the station went on to other stories, the television was turned off. In silence they gatherered the pictures, separating the ones to stay and the ones to go.

They had made their choices for the reunion. One, they kept separate from all the others. Today it was the one that touched them most.

Elena put it aside. She would have a copy made and send it to Louise.

Hopefully I am finally on the BLOG. I have a submission for the June assignment, but haven't been able to post it. This is a test to see if I am FINALLY on board. Helene Wright