Humans of Downey - Edward

"I'm a dancer. I'm a swing dancer and a blues dancer. My last dance I went to was in Pasadena on Saturday. I went to see Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats. I've been following them for many years. Tomorrow night I'm heading to a dance in Burbank at Joe's Great All American Bar and Grill. It's a rockabilly band called Crown City Bombers. Saturday I'm going back into Pasadena to see Debbie Watson out of Austin, Texas. She's a blues girl.

"In 1952, I was in the 5th grade at Our Lady, Queen of Angels, in Los Angeles. Sister Mary, my teacher, noticed that I had rhythm. She asked me if she could teach me how to do the swing. From Sister Mary's adventure I fell in love with her. So much so that I wanted to get married to her. When I asked her to marry me she said she was already married. And I said, to who? She said, to Jesus. And I shook my fist to the heavens and said, 'Aahh.' But I've been dancing ever since.

"I met my first wife on the dance floor, at a wedding. I was 18 years old and fell in love. We were married within 6 months. We produced four great children. The marriage didn't last long but we are still friends."

~ Edward

PS This interview took place at Furman Park during the Wiseguys concert, one of the Concert in the Park series on Wednesday nights. Next week will feature the Downey Symphony. Come out and enjoy the free entertainment at 7:00pm.

Back on the market?

It looks like the Rives Mansion is soon to be back on the market once again. It seems like there has been nothing but struggle and controversy regarding a use for this historic property for years. Downey Beat had a lot to say about it—check out the article.

It is a beautiful old home and I would love to see it used and appreciated once again.

Choose your exercise

Even while the Marine band is playing at the other end of the park, people are taking advantage of the many forms of exercise available. There is the strength-building exercise equipment that uses your own body weight, the tennis courts, and the path around the park for joggers and dog-walkers (the dog is out of sight).

Moon & palm

Not exactly in Downey. Tonight I'm in Beaumont celebrating my daughter's birthday. The moon has been incredible lately and I couldn't resist the way the moon lit up the sky with the palm tree in shadow.

"The moon will guide you through the night with her brightness, but she will always dwell in the darkness, in order to be seen." 
~ Shannon L. Alder

Be our guest

This week's Concert in the Park at Furman Park featured the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wingband, which is one of my favorites and a regular in the concert series. The park was crowded as usual. With tunes that ranged from the melancholy "Shenandoah" to a medley of tunes from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the band wowed the crowd to an enthusiastic response.

Humans of Downey - Joe and Joseph

"It's not that I want Joseph to be just like me, but I want him to instill the things I'm teaching him. I hope he listens. I'm going to lay a canvas out for him and he can choose what he wants. That way, he'll be himself.

"The one character trait I want my son to see in me and choose to build in himself is honesty. Every day, I quiz him about his day. I ask him, 'What do you remember about today?' He reflects back and tells me what he did. If we catch him in a little lie, we correct him. If he catches himself in a lie, he corrects himself. It gives him practice in honesty."

~ Joe

PS Joe is teaching his son to play golf. One of the few sports where you keep your own score and call penalties on yourself. A great way to build honesty.

Contrast

As Pam mentioned earlier this week, we have been watching photography videos to enhance our skills. One of the skills we are learning has to do with observation. Being aware of light and how it creates photographic opportunities. The other day I was at Rio Hondo Golf Club participating in the group golf lessons that are sponsored by the City of Downey. My wife, who is watching the videos with us, pointed out the contrast of the bright areas opposed with the shadows on the practice putting green. A beautiful place, don't you think?

By the way, you should check out the golf lessons at Rio Hondo Golf Course. The teaching pro, Scott Walley, will improve anyone's game and the price is very reasonable, $70 for 6 weeks.

Fruitful

Watching fruit develop is pretty incredible. The Italian prunes on this tree have the limbs bending to the ground. I just can't wait until they are ripe.