Isabels on a roll

at the dinner table

always lots of conversation coursed between family

he shared a Jack Smith LA Times story a calendar called The Exposition of Days was published  each month was headed by quotes from educators writers philosophers scientists on Life Service Ethics Morality similar uplifting subject  he particularly liked one from Harry Bender 

                                              he memorised it

Imagine the appeals/dissents and remandments/if lawyers had written/The Ten Commandments

went over like a lead balloon

Awright  howbout Irv Kupcinet  

                                 What can you say about a society that says God is Dead and Elvis is alive?

like attending a wake 

                       Comon ya guys This is great stuff

It’s not Dad.

Isabel before you go off anyare welcome to  but yare not leaving the table until you eat half of your meatloaf Its Uncle Ralphsbest damn meatloaf anyone puts on the table

Maybe not.

Hows tha  Elaborate

You say it’ll put hair on my chest. 

                                    I don’t want hair on my chest. I’m going to grow two hills.

Ohreally Whakind of hills Like this 

                                       he put his hands under his sweatshirt  breastheight he poked his indexfingers against it 

OHno no! Not like Auntie’s, like Mom’s. 

                                           Hers are just right.

   he had no argument

2145,  Twosday,  23  1. 1990

1441,  day-between-2-Ts,  17  5. 23

More Today Than Yesterday

lying on his belly on the carpet rubbed the outside of his hand  This is hard

his wife looked up from her crossstitch from her rocker  What’s hard, babe?

Writing in this notebook he shook his head  Its always been problematicyoud think by now theyd make a notebook for lefthanded people

Hmm. There’s a simple remedy.

Quit writing in my journal

No. Simpler. 

             Turn it on its head, binder right, free your mind.

he turned it 

             Sonofabitch

I’ll let your mother know.

Onbrother yare in rare form this evening Might suggest your crossstitch is going well Yare really making it an artformbreaking tradition almost freestyle

Thank you, trying to make it appear more like painting.

Mom woudbe over the moon Her abstractsI think were her best work

Frees your mind.  she chuckled

Yes 

    Speaking of free mind he looked up to her  Isabel keeps coming out of the blue on me

she looked up found him looking at her Shouldn’t surprise you she’s your daughter, you come out of the blue.

he chuckled  Stay off the walls

she pursed her lips Even when I ask pretty please you don’t.

I cant help myself theyre your friends ansome of them got their heads up their ass

And you like pointing that out to the whole room.

Subtletys lost on them Ya gotta slap em upside the headwhich is queer They are for the most part intelligent people  Tha old quotient working against them the smarter someone is unfortunately their common sense ticks dow . . 

. . And yours is up to your eyeballs.

Either common sense or horseshit

                                    You likedlike that about me 

I love that about you. 

                      Isabel?

Yah Do you know today is 

January Sixth.

Yes began singing On the twelfth day of Christmas . .  stopped  Yare right 

                                                                                Isabel asked Yaknow Dad, what today is?

Saturday

Yeah but . . what today is?

January Sixth

Yeahbut . . what it is?

Baby  evidently I don anya do   What is today

Dia De Los Tres Reyes.

I don speak adaEnglish

she set him earnestly in her eyes  It’s El Dia de los Reyes . . Reyes Reyes . that’s a really big hint, Dad.

Chile Reyes chile relleno  No

she harrumphed sounded like he punched her in the belly  Today’s the day the Three Kings arrived before baby Jesus.

I did not know tha anya know tha how

My teacher, Mrs. Garfield, she’s kinda churchy.

Shes a lot churchy

She said as we were leaving school yesterdaygoing out the door. I remember it because I didn’t know it. 

he said Kids got a mind like a sponge

she chuckled

               Remind you of anyone. chuckled harder  Anyone . in particular?

   Shes my kid

TADUMb! 

I caught tha

              Your silent b

You're so quick.

I hadhave to be  otherwise I woudnt have caught you my lil CIF State medalist in two events

You love me.

Forever

6Jan 1990

1023,  Day-between-2-Ts,  17  5. 23

Spiral Staircase  More Today Than Yesterday  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89eEa3RvCF4 

Blood, Sweat, and Tears  You’ve Made Me So Very Happy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZtRAoITP0