’19 July

July 30

My last Tuesday for a while and we lived it up at the movies. It was fun!

July 27

Big day at the Open House the day after the funeral, more pictures available from Lona that I’m going to get asap.

Asap seems to be a long time coming because of all the busyness including but not limited to me getting ready to be gone for six weeks.

Celina cooked a dinner for us that made me weak in the knees. Oh Celina, YUM! It was 105 in the valley and the pool was bathtub warm. Thank you!

David, Frankie, Paul, Joanne, Celina, Celina’s mom, Ronald, Steven.

July 26

The family hired a videographer to tape everything on the day of the funeral so I didn’t feel any need to take a lot of pictures. Here’s a very short summary of how it all went.

The red building in the center of the picture is The Old North Church, modeled closely after the 1723 church in Boston, where we held the service. Just in front of the church is the interment plots for both Hartley and Lona. The reception was in the Hall of Liberty, the white building in the foreground.

It was especially convenient to have everything so close at hand, the church, the cemetery, and the reception, and for their part Forest Lawn did a really good job.

internet.

Cousins handing out the programs – Xander, Anya, Cali, Rome, Lilly.

Inside the church. The pastor from the family church in Honolulu did the sermon, Lucas sang in Hebrew and English, Christa and Charis did a sign-language performance, Caleb spoke at length, and then there was..

..this guy, Jubilant Sykes, a friend of the family from their church in LA, and everyone agreed, we could listen to him sing all day long.

Jubilant sang at the graveside too and it was awesome.

The graveside service was especially interesting in that they had a few people come up to read verses from the bible followed by songs sung by the congregation.

Then everyone took the two minute journey to the reception for food and stories of Hartley.

July 23

Angela’s pictures from Beach Day! Cali said she wasn’t going in the ocean. She didn’t like the ocean, it was scary. Lilly took her by the hand and led her into the sea.

And then Cali caught a couple waves on the boogie board and that was it, Cali Black: California Girl.

ak.

Rome joined in after work. She has been working at an art studio, the best summer job a thirteen year old ever had.

Lilly, Cali, Rome

July 22

Here’s me and Lona finishing off everyone else’s chicken bones. Are you done with that? We got it from our mother.

And that’s Lona on July 4th, greeting her 20 year old grandson Caleb come to visit. She got that from our mother too.

July 20

First order of the day – The Really Awesome Improv Show, a really awesome improv show at Second City in Hollywood.

What a totally recommendable show for kids and adults alike although adults are unlikely to go without a kid they certainly could, and wouldn’t be sorry.

Lilly, Rome, Cali, Windy

Lilly raised her hand at EVERY opportunity and got picked for the biggest part an audience member could have. She was AWESOME.

Everyone who is both old and LA born will not need me to tell them that this is Miceli’s, “fine Italian food since 1949”.

Next, a stroll up the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Grauman’s Chinese for some star power. But not really so much star power, just streets absolutely PACKED shoulder to shoulder or more like nose to nose streets full of people.

Followed by Ice Cream at the Roll Up Ice Cream place. Nice day guys.

July 19

Cali and the Pacific Ocean.

We had a fancy day – a tour of the Marion Davis house and then lunch with Lona and Evelyn at the Annenberg Beach Club, open and welcoming to all who can wait for a seat.

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Exit through the gift shop.

Cali kickin’ it with the photo ops.

wr.

The original of this guy was there too and it was wonderful.

Then we had lunch at the once hippy-dippy and now neutra-foodie-chic Inn of the Seventh Ray.

Sharon, Windy, Cali.

July 17

Roxi spent the day with Lilly today so I called Roxi’s Grandma Pauli and we all went to lunch and then to the beach. I wish I got some better pictures because those girls were taking on the waves with delighted enthusiasm.

Roxi and Lilly made up a dessert menu, we made our selections, and they served up..

..super-fun desserts with a check, the price being rendered in hugs, kisses, and high-fives.

July 16

All set now.

The funeral will be July 26 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with a reception following. On July 27 we’ll have an open house at the apartment in Marina del Rey.

I’m going to leave this on top for a while and add pictures below it because unfortunately I already forget to whom I’ve told what.

July 10 Hartley became unconscious with what turned out to be a brain bleed. The neuro-surgeons at UCLA concluded that nothing could be done to restore even minimal function. He is on a breathing machine awaiting further decisions.

July 11 the Palliative Care team will be consulting with Lona and Trevor this morning. I went to Forest Lawn and brought back all the info and photos for an informed decision regarding burial, service, and reception.

July 12 Hartley died around 5pm today surrounded by his family who were all praying and singing hymns and telling Hartley how much they loved him. It was perfect.

July 13 The Hawaii family is still here and we spent most of the day working on the funeral, figuring out ‘things’. It’s like a wedding in that you spend too much because it’s worth it for the memory, but you do it in a few days.

Goodbye Hartley.

Hartley’s brother Brent and his wife Donna came to the hospital, including Lona, Trevor, and Caleb.

On the day Hartley fell into the coma Windy and I were out with Burt and Charlene at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi.

I had always lusted after Burt and Charlene’s coffee table cat and now I’ve got one too!

July 9

Caleb is passing through, visiting with his grandparents, and I got a great afternoon of lunch at Ye Olde Kings Head since he’ll be leaving for Oxford soon.

We walked around for a while and then..

(self-portrait)

..Caleb did the full run on the rings. You go Caleb!

July 8

Monday in the valley but this is on 2nd Street and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica.

We might not recognize it. It’s a Book Store, and they’ll buy your books. Check it out online at bookmaster.com.

July 7

Another fun-filled Sunday with Marsha thanks to the fruits of the pleasure she takes from charity silent auctions. Today – Polo in Santa Barbara!

But first we met Michi at a restaurant of her choosing and everything we ate was delicious.

Michi didn’t want to go to polo but Nancy came and YAY for that. We had a delightful visit and..

(self-portrait)

..a tasty treat to enjoy during the match.

The announcer was particularly entertaining so I wanted to see her vantage and there she was in the cheap seats having a grand ol’ time.

Gorgeous!

July 7

From Cynthia: “The police shooting of Philando Castile in a St Paul suburb made national news a few years ago when his passenger girlfriend made a Facebook live stream video of his shooting death – the officer thought he was reaching for a gun when he was actually reaching for his ID that the officer had asked to see. Philando even said he was reaching for his ID.

“I sit on this bench often when I bring Kai and I thought the school was honoring him because he worked for the St Paul school district – it is in the school park where I take Kai after school hours located 2 blocks away from me and I just learned that the reason the bench is here is because this was the school where Philando worked as a cafeteria supervisor when he was shot.”

July 6

Bonnie and I drove down to Santa Ana today to visit the Bowers Museum. I can’t remember that I’ve ever been here before.

We came to see..

..’Now open at the Bowers Museum in its U.S. west coast premiere: Guo Pei: Couture Beyond.

‘This exhibition showcases the iconic work of world renowned couturière designer Guo Pei. Featuring more than 40 breathtaking pieces from her most bold runway shows, the masterpieces on view underline the artist’s impact on the fashion world and beyond.

‘For over 20 years Guo Pei has been dressing celebrities, royalty and politicians from around the globe who turn to her for show-stopping creations.’

From a Vogue article about the opening festivity:

‘Classifying these pieces as clothing wouldn’t be accurate: Firstly, they aren’t meant to be worn; and secondly, as Guo herself informed earlier that day at a press preview, “These are not pieces of my clothing. I make clothing, but in these galleries, you will find my art.”’

More.

We ate lunch at the restaurant there and then enjoyed a stroll through the rest of the museum. It was a lovely outing, thanks for the idea Bonnie!

July 5

I got in the car this morning, got out this afternoon, came inside, and then ticked 6 things off my to-do list. What a satisfying day.

July 4

Brigitte and Knut found this while traveling through Lubeck, Germany. Thanks guys!

Today I wanted to go room by room, clean every surface and do all the moving-out-to-storage that needed to be done. I didn’t get through every room but I did get through most of the rooms. I have so many rooms now, living/dining combo, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, service porch. Still so many rooms compared to my studio life!

Wednesday was my second summer Tuesday with the girls, we switched, and I’m lovin’ these summer days.

July 2

Happy Birthday to ME..Thanks Jo Ann! Several things: note it is cut in half, we Shared it. I wish I had asked her to lower it so the full glory would shine against the black top. Lastly, I know, the glasses glare, which I didn’t notice at the time and couldn’t have done anything about even if I had.

We also had a scrumptious taco lunch at a place I had never visited before and now will be a part of my regular rotation.

July 1

Cynthia sent me these. WOW, how spectacularly cool is this! And he’s going to be 16 in a week!!

mh.

Ann had the ladies over for Monday potluck, ready to celebrate. We did spend some time moaning over the State of the Union, something we Never do, but the group was small with no dissenters.