AS I WAS FALLING ASLEEP LAST NIGHT , I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WOULD DO IF I EVER RETURNED TO LOS ANGELES AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. SO, AS I SLIPPED INTO “DREAMLAND”, I FOUND MYSELF DRIVING TO HENRI’s RESTAURANT ON SHERMAN WAY IN CANOGA PARK EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING AS THE SUN IS COMING UP! I SAID HEY, HERE COMES THE SUN ! THEN I REALIZED NOBODY ELSE WAS IN THE CAR. IT’S AN OLD FAMILY RUN PLACE. I ORDERED THE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK BREAKFAST. I GOT THE “SATURDAY ONLY’ LARGE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK SPECIAL ALONG WITH THE “FIXENS” AND MY NORMAL 4 OR 5 CUPS OF COFFEE. IT WAS GREAT.

THEN I FOUND MYSELF SLIPPING AWAY AND DREAMING AGAIN AND DRIVING DOWN PARTHENIA AVENUE FOR LUNCH AND SUDDENLY, AND ONLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I SWERVED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF “BRENTS'” DELI. I ORDERED JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY MY HUNGER. I STARTED WITH THE CHOPPED LIVER APPETIZER FOLLOWED BY 2 TOASTED POPPY SEED BAGELS WITH LOXX AND CREAM CHEESE, SLICE OF TOMATO AND RED ONION SLAB. YET , I WAS STILL HUNGRY. SO I TOPPED IT OFF WITH A STUFFED CABBAGE PLATE WITH A POPPY SEED HAMENTASCHEN . OH YEAH… AND A DR. BROWNS CREAM SODA TO HELP WITH DIGESTION. MEDICINAL PURPOSES ONLY. I TEMPORARILY AWAKENED AND I WAS PISSED OFF BECAUSE I AWAKENED BEFORE I WAS DONE WITH MY HAMENTASCHEN .

I FELL BACK TO SLEEP BUT MY TEMPORAL FLUX CAPACITOR MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND IT WAS DINNER TIME ALREADY. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO “LES SISTERS” ON DEVONSHIRE AVENUE. IT IS ANOTHER FAMILY RUN BUSINESS AND A LOT OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. MORE THAN THAT, THEY HAVE THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD GUMBO WITH ALL THE FIXINS YOU CAN CHOOSE. I ALWAYS USED TO JUST STARE AT THE MENU FOR A HALF HOUR TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO ORDER AND THEY WERE ALWAYS PATIENT WITH ME. YOU CAN ALSO GET A PROFESSIONAL SHAVE NEXT DOOR! THEN I SAID TO MYSELF, HEY, I’M DREAMING SO WHO CARES ? SO…. I ORDERED ONE OF EVERYTHING, RIBS, CATFISH, GUMBO, OKRA, CORNBREAD AND 1 BOTTLE OF TOBASCO SAUCE…..AND ONE DIET COKE. WE OLDER GUYS HAVE TO WATCH OUR WAIST LINES ! I SPILLED THE COKE ON MYSELF SO IT WAS KINDA LIKE A WET-DREAM. I ATE IT ALL. AFTER DINNER , I HAD TO GO BACK INTO THE RESTAURANT AND LOOK FOR MY GLASSES . THEY HAD MY GLASSES THANK GOODNESS. THEN THEY KINDLY REMINDED ME THAT I FORGOT TO PAY THE TAB. i TOLD HER I DID NOT ORDER A TAB , I GOT A DIET COKE ! I TOLD THE GAL THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A DREAM WHERE I HAD TO ACTUALLY PAY THE TAB !! SHE RESPONDED AND ASKED, ” SO YOU DON’T WANT YOUR CAR KEYS ?”

SO I PAID THE TAB AND THEN I REMEMBER DRIVING BACK TO LAX AND AWAKENED BACK HERE. I WON’T BE ABLE TO EAT FOR A WEEK! NOW I HAVE TO GO FIND MY CAR KEYS.

marc humor helps us cope – I have been to Virginia Beach with my Sister and Brother in law…. crab fishing in their Blue Canoe. 1972. It was a beautiful place and nice people.