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03.26.98  I thought my excursion out to Los Angeles this time was going to be a typical trip -- usually, journeying up to Venice Beach and training at the infamous Gold's Gym.  It provides a very motivating environment, seeing how it was the original Gold's Gym where Arnold and others trained.  Presently, it is the home for many of today's professional bodybuilders and a mere hobbyist like myself could train amongst them.  This trip, unbeknownst to me, was going to be slightly different.  I was going to witness a different side of Los Angeles.  I was going to get to really meet some of the people I have only tooted as coworkers until now.  And, it was swift as a quick wind off of the Pacific Coast that everybody has a story; some story to tell.
 
     She handed me directions, "Here you go Peter.  It's about a ten mile trip, but it may take anywhere up to twenty to thirty minutes."
     "Okay."
     "Just follow me."
     "Sure."
     "But, just in case something happens, these directions will come in handy."
     "Thanks again for all this.  It'll be nice to meet your family."
     "Oh, it's nothing."
     Alice is one of the closer friends I have at work in Los Angeles and it's a pleasure to sit and talk with her whenever I get the chance to travel out here.  Usually, our conversations are filled with stories about our families and they have always made me feel closer to home.  Her parents live nearby and I do not think that I have ever told her, but I have always regarded her as lucky for this.
     I followed her in my rental car passing many shopping centers and malls, filled with bright lights and colorful decorations.  Approximately twenty minutes later, we approached a quiet residential neighborhood making a few quick turns we arrived at this house.  The structure was different and spectacular enough where it appeared to be a landmark in the Torrance neighborhood.  I parked my car behind her's and started walking toward the house.
     "Wow.  This is a great house," I remarked noticing the differing additions to the house.
     "Yes.  People usually have that reaction.  Cal had done a lot of work over the years."
      It was equally, if not more impressive on the inside.  Among entering, we were immediately greeted by Kyle, her son, a cheerful bright thirteen-year-old.  Touring through the house we were greeted by Cal, her husband, and Tyler, her daughter.  We decided to go out and get some dinner.  Tyler was unable to attend.  This was evident as she continued with practicing her speech for tomorrow's class.  She noted to us that she also had to study for four tests the following day.  I did not envy her.  I remembered those days of tests and papers.  It required a lot of endurance, patience, and willpower to study so dedicatedly, none of which I have today. Alice, Kyle, and I sat on the couch and waited for Cal.  I tried helping Kyle with his math homework.  Surprisingly, I was only able to help him out with one out of two math problems.  The second problem spoke about showing the equality of some equation.  My mind quickly fled somewhere and back drawing a blank.  This was quite embarrassing, seeing how he was only thirteen.  I rubbed my eyes, shook my head, and looked again.  Yes, he was a cheerfully bright boy who was only thirteen performing pre-calculus mathematical problems; guess I was a little rusty.
     Later, Kyle and I sat in the back seat of the car en route to the restaurant.  He spoke of making jumps on his bike, skateboarding in parking lots, and how the seat belt irritated him as it rubbed against his neck.  Moments later, we arrived at the Seafood House on Hawthorne.
 
     The food was excellent.  I enjoyed Cal's stories.  He had a knack of telling them and Alice confirmed that he had many.  He was one of the types of storytellers that no matter how serious the story was, due to his cheerful innocent disposition, they seemed very light.
     "Where am I from? Rochester," I answered, "But, I'm originally from New York City."
     "Rochester?" He seemed a little curious as he smiled.
     "Well, Rochester is about three-hundred and fifty miles away from New York City."
     "Do you visit there much?"
     "Yes, every now and then.  My parents still live there."
     "That must be nice."
     "We were in New York City a couple of times."
     "Really?"
     "Yes."
     "When was the first time?"
     "Well, I was there when I was eighteen," Alice seemed curious and Cal continued, "The first time I was there, I was eighteen.  We have been there since then.  It has always been an experience.  The first time, I was just passing through.  I remember traveling across the country.  I wanted to get to Boston eventually."  He looked up for a second and smiled remembering something, "You meet many people sometimes.  The trip started without an agenda.  It's mostly fun that way.  I left Los Angeles and mainly hitched my way across America.  I used to love these shoes.  These shoes I had were very comfortable sandals.  They felt like they were custom-made for me.  I loved them so much.  I did.  And, in my travels, I met the brother of the person who made these sandals.  Imagine that.  Small world.  I met other people too.  I met up with this African American man and we traveled a few miles together.  And, in those days, I think prejudices was still very strong in the South.  Oh, people used to look at us when we entered places together.  Weird how that is, huh?  Finally, I was hitchhiking a ride up the coast to New York City.  I wanted to get to Boston, and passed through New York City.  I got dropped off near some airport, and remember taking a bus into Manhattan.  I had some change on me.  I walked all the way uptown until I hit Harlem.  Now, me being so blond," he played with his hair, "I stuck out like a sore thumb.  It was pretty scary.  So scary that there were times that I wanted to just jump in a garbage can and hide out for the night.  But instead, I just kept walking. And, I walked throughout the entire night.  Just walking and walking.  I walked up so many streets, and wasn't sure where I was.  I just remember finally crossing some bridge and reached some off ramp."
     "What did you do then?" I asked, "Where did you sleep?"
     "I didn't fall asleep just yet.  I just caught another ride toward Boston."  We all smiled and chuckled.
     I smiled.  "Tell me how you two met?"
     "Oh, is that a story," Alice answered.  I looked to both Cal and Alice and smiled anxiously.  I love hearing stories like these.
     Turning to Kyle I asked giggling, "You've probably heard this a million times huh?"
     "Yep," he answered and nodded his head up and down.

     Alice and Cal continued with their story and it was delightful.  Before I came to Los Angeles this time, I expected to see some more pro-bodybuilders and receive more motivation and insight about the sport, but instead, I gained a different type of insight - of people.

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