Because I came from a small family, my friends became my extended family. Many of us are still very close. In fact, if it wasn't for some of my very dear friends, I'm not sure how I would have gotten through the divorce. My world got turned upside down for about a year and a half and they really helped me flip it back over. In life, it's pretty important to know that someone's got your back. The outpouring of love and support from my parents and friends was what got me through the worst year of my life, 2016. And now, I will never look back.
But, it did definitely age me. Truth is, the getting older thing is just like the manual says. Things hurt, and my eyesight is getting worse. Seriously, the eye doctor asked me if I was having a hard time seeing at night, and I said no. Literally, one week later I had to use the flashlight app on my phone to see the menu at a dimly lit restaurant. Now, either my eyesight got worse one week after Dr. Taketa said I might need bi-focals, or clearly I eat at the same places so much that I never look at menus... Either way, it looks like I'm going to need some thicker goggles.
Just before I turned 49, I had the, "Holy crap, I'm almost 50 moment." You know, that moment when you question what you're doing with your life? After a little reflection, I realized I have done some pretty cool stuff over the years. And, I actually have accomplished quite a bit. "Child Actor" on Romper Room (LOL), Paper boy (We were the last paperboys in L.A.), Box Boy, Pizzeria Manager, Editor of the Santa Monica College Corsair Newspaper, Off-Road Magazine Assistant Editor, Liaison with a Secret Clearance at the Department of Defense, Disc Jockey, Best Boy, Film Editor, Director and Producer.
Setting all of this aside for a moment, my parents gave me a birthday card this year that sums up my whole live. The card says, "He took the road less traveled. But he brought a helmet and a tiny shopping cart. And that made all the difference." I definitely did not take a conventional route, but with the exception of a couple of things, I don't think I could have done it any other way.
So where am I now? Well, first and foremost, I'm a dad. It's my greatest achievement, and at times, my greatest challenge! But I'm also secretary of the Parent Action Committee at my kid's school, as well as, the 6th grade co-room parent for Mazzy's class. I also manage a little league baseball team and on occasion, assistant coach basketball. In between all of the volunteering, I do have to work. In fact, the feature film I produced a couple years ago is finally releasing this week. It was my first feature, so it's pretty cool that it's finally coming out!
The film, Don't Sleep, is playing "one week only" in Los Angeles at the Laemmle in Santa Monica... No ballyhoo, no interviews with the Hollywood reporter. Just a quiet release in a small theater before it goes straight to video. Sigh.
Setting all of this aside for a moment, my parents gave me a birthday card this year that sums up my whole live. The card says, "He took the road less traveled. But he brought a helmet and a tiny shopping cart. And that made all the difference." I definitely did not take a conventional route, but with the exception of a couple of things, I don't think I could have done it any other way.
So where am I now? Well, first and foremost, I'm a dad. It's my greatest achievement, and at times, my greatest challenge! But I'm also secretary of the Parent Action Committee at my kid's school, as well as, the 6th grade co-room parent for Mazzy's class. I also manage a little league baseball team and on occasion, assistant coach basketball. In between all of the volunteering, I do have to work. In fact, the feature film I produced a couple years ago is finally releasing this week. It was my first feature, so it's pretty cool that it's finally coming out!
The film, Don't Sleep, is playing "one week only" in Los Angeles at the Laemmle in Santa Monica... No ballyhoo, no interviews with the Hollywood reporter. Just a quiet release in a small theater before it goes straight to video. Sigh.
Now back to the room parent thing. Mazzy was mortified when she found out that I was the "room mom" for her class. She said, "Dad, why do you have to be the room mom? It's embarrassing." Yup, she's hit the age where everything is embarrassing... At least I don't drive her to school in a green and white bubble top van... Luckily, that was the last I have heard from her on the subject. Maybe she's too embarrassed to talk about it! Lucky me!
Speaking of the bubble top van my mom drove my sister and I to school in, I opted for a vehicle that's a little less embarrassing. Well, slightly that is... As I've said in past blog posts, I drive a Ford Flex. It's a 2013, so it's not really that old. But, it's not without it's issues. Packed with four kids we broke down on the 405 freeway a week or so ago. Luckily, I was able to limp from the fast lane to the shoulder. Unlike teaching Mazzy how to change a tire, this was going to require AAA. I told the dispatcher that it was myself and four kids, so be sure to send a tow truck with a crew cab!
The didn't. They sent a flat bed with two seats. But, the driver had a solution. He said, I'll load you guys up, and you can go ahead and stay in your car. I asked, is this legal? He said, "Sure, we do it all the time..." We do it all the time, I thought. Sounds good to me! So down the freeway we went. People were pointing and waving to us every step of the way. The kids of course LOVED it. It was like we were in our very own parade!
Now, if my little story ended here, our day would have been just fine. But, it didn't... After leaving the Flex at the Ford dealer, we hopped in an Uber and headed to the closest Hertz rental car center, which happened to be at LAX. Just when I thought we were out out of the woods, we came upon a line at Hertz that was a mile long. Turns out everyone from Florida had flown to California to avoid hurricane Irma.
Usually at a time like this, I would go with plan B, and hop right back in an Uber. But, unfortunately my iPhone was now down to 1% battery life. I called one of the parents of the kids who was with us to let them know that we were at Hertz and the my phone was about die. My phone died right when I pushed end.
So there I was. Stuck in a mile long line with four hungry kids. The only snack machine in sight had an "out of order" sign on it. This of course created a challenge for the kids. They were determined to get a package of M&Ms out of that machine. Even if it meant that Jaden's hand could get stuck, which it did... As I calmly walked over to investigate how to extract my son's hand from the clutches of the machine, I could feel the stares from a woman who was already sick of my brood and their friends. With one big yank, I was able to free Jaden's hand, much to the delight of everyone who was watching!
About 45 minutes into this final adventure of the day, one of the kid's dads showed up. He had a battery to charge my phone, and a car big enough to take all of the kids to get something to eat. Me? Well, I waited another 30 minutes and eventually ended up in a car. No, it wasn't a convertible muscle car this time. This time I got a Hyundai...
The didn't. They sent a flat bed with two seats. But, the driver had a solution. He said, I'll load you guys up, and you can go ahead and stay in your car. I asked, is this legal? He said, "Sure, we do it all the time..." We do it all the time, I thought. Sounds good to me! So down the freeway we went. People were pointing and waving to us every step of the way. The kids of course LOVED it. It was like we were in our very own parade!
Now, if my little story ended here, our day would have been just fine. But, it didn't... After leaving the Flex at the Ford dealer, we hopped in an Uber and headed to the closest Hertz rental car center, which happened to be at LAX. Just when I thought we were out out of the woods, we came upon a line at Hertz that was a mile long. Turns out everyone from Florida had flown to California to avoid hurricane Irma.
Usually at a time like this, I would go with plan B, and hop right back in an Uber. But, unfortunately my iPhone was now down to 1% battery life. I called one of the parents of the kids who was with us to let them know that we were at Hertz and the my phone was about die. My phone died right when I pushed end.
So there I was. Stuck in a mile long line with four hungry kids. The only snack machine in sight had an "out of order" sign on it. This of course created a challenge for the kids. They were determined to get a package of M&Ms out of that machine. Even if it meant that Jaden's hand could get stuck, which it did... As I calmly walked over to investigate how to extract my son's hand from the clutches of the machine, I could feel the stares from a woman who was already sick of my brood and their friends. With one big yank, I was able to free Jaden's hand, much to the delight of everyone who was watching!
About 45 minutes into this final adventure of the day, one of the kid's dads showed up. He had a battery to charge my phone, and a car big enough to take all of the kids to get something to eat. Me? Well, I waited another 30 minutes and eventually ended up in a car. No, it wasn't a convertible muscle car this time. This time I got a Hyundai...
Best adventure of the day!
The birthday card from my parents
that sums up my whole live...
Back when I managed my friend's pizza joint.
DJ Rips on the wheels of steel, with MC Lips
Firing up my baseball team!
Now playing at the Laemmle Santa Monica!
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