Why I live in Los Angeles

LA has been my home, 53 of my 59 years. I was born in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (now the Scientology center, believe it or not) in East Hollywood. I remember playing football on the street while growing up on Elm Dr, and never needing to lock the door at night. I saw my first homeless person when I came to NYC in 1970. I'll never forget getting off the subway on 34th Street, and as I walked down the street, with hundreds of people milling around and walking back and forth, there was this homeless guy lying right in the middle of the street. I was shocked and wanted to call the police, because I was sure that something was wrong. My NY buddy from college looked at me like I was nuts and told me "figet about it, welcome to da big city!"

After 4 years of college and 2 overseas I came back to a different city in '76. A meaner, rawer, less innocent and more dangerous LA than I left. But I've learned since coming back, that this still is the city that I grew up in, the city that feels like home. I've learned not to let the uptight people get to me, and breathe and smile as I navigate my way through the soundtrack of my life, never taking myself too seriously. 'Tell you the truth, I could live almost anywhere in LA, as long as the place is clean (except for maybe the Valley because it's too hot in the summer and too rainy in the winter.) I love the LA weather, I love the ocean breeze that does make it all the way to my neighborhood in the Fairfax district. I love the moderate sunshine, with temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees more days than not. I love the fact that I can get almost anything I want almost anytime day or night. Sure LA has become a third and a three world city: there's us West Coast natives. There's the refugees from the neurosis of the East Coast and the cold of the North and Northeast particularly, and then there's the many Latino refugees looking for a future, often that future being their children and grandchildren. For me, as I say, the key is to go with the flow, sharing my different way of thinking with each individual who comes into my sphere of influence. I'm here for now. My wife is slowly getting better. Hopefully my Dad and sister will find a place close by and we'll be able to share good times together during his golden years, and we can all grow together. We all miss Mom terribly, but her loss has paralyzed them, whereas I've kept moving and growing, grateful for the enormous blessings that have continued to rain down to me from the blue LA skies. Someday I want to move to Israel to be close to our son. But for now, I'm home. We have our wonderful daughter Ariella and her family close by. We have our wonderful daughter Chavi and her family a hop, skip and jump away in San Diego.

When I was in Israel a couple of years ago, I had the privilege of seeing one of the great Kabbalists in Bnei Brak, Rav Sharya Tiplitsky, Shlit"a. I asked him when my wife would have a complete recovery and when I would be able to move to Israel. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, looked me squarely in the eye, and told me, "You'll know when the time is right."

So with the A-lmighty's continued benevolence, I love life, I look forward to the adventure that each day brings, and ... I L O V E L A !