Reminiscing

This week I’ve been spending some time reminiscing.  Several close friends have recently been diagnosed with terminal illnesses, and I’ve been sharing with them my recollections of our happy times together.  I appreciate how precious those memories are, and I’d like to think it cheers up my friends to remember them.

So here are some of my own recollections I’d like to share with you.

Does anyone remember Art Linkletter?  He hosted a TV show called House Party.  One popular segment of the show that aired on CBS from 1952 until 1970 was “Kids Say the Darndest Things”.  I was one of those kids. Art often gave children a big word to use to see what they would make of it.  I wish I could remember the word he gave me. When I look back as an adult – I remember it sounded like masturbate, but I know that wasn’t it.  I do remember the audience laughing.

That wasn’t my only childhood TV appearance.  My father played French Horn with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.  They broadcast a live program for children every weekend, and during intermission they conducted a musical quiz for kids.

I was chosen to participate in the quiz, most likely because of my dad.  I still remember one of the words I learned in preparation for the quiz – impresario.   When they asked what the leader of the orchestra was called, I showed off my newfound knowledge and confidently answered, “Impresario.”  I had overlooked the simple and correct answer, which was conductor, in favor of something incorrect and more arcane.

Today I stay with simple.

I remember when my brother David and I used to race our bikes through the hillside neighborhood we lived in.  If any of my kids sped down steep streets like I did then, I would confiscate their bikes immediately.

I also remember my dad in his late 50’s telling me that because several of his friends had died, he planned to make new friends who were twenty years younger so that he wouldn’t outlast them.  That turned out to be a very good idea because he lived to be 104.

When I founded ACF Property Management, Inc. on March 1, 1968, I never thought for a moment that I would still be sitting at my desk fifty-four years later.  I also still don’t quite believe that I’ve been married four times and have six biological children.  Holy moly!

As they say, life is what happens while you’re making plans.

I’m still making plans, and new memories in the process, so I must still be alive.  Daveen tells me she expects at least another twenty years out of me.

Holy guacamole!

Alan