Serendipity and Chuck Berry, with a side of American Cheese

January 29th

After a bit of a slow start. I get down to the kitchen in time to watch everything being cleaned up post-complimentary pancakes. Luanna from Switzerland notices my late arrival and offers a bagel and cheese slice or, I should say, American cheese. [This marks the 3rd time I've had cheese slices in under two weeks. Before then? Years, maybe]. We discuss our plans for the day: she's going shopping in Malibu, I'm going to check out Santa Monica.

One lengthy bus ride later and I'm strolling along the pier, wondering whether I'd bump into anyone from the hostel, since a few people mentioned heaading here.
Giant pelicans swoop in and out of the water, while an assortment of characters cast fishing lines. My favorite is the man in the captain's hat and black & white striped shirt, with forearm guards and a smoke dangling from the left side of his mouth.

Down on the beach, I saunter along, mulling over my next plan of action, when out of nowhere, Luanna bounds up to me. We go back to her towel where she has been sitting with Julie, an animated Latina in her early 50s.
Julie is waxing on at length about love, giving us both sides of conversations between her and her boyfriend (who maybe kinda-sorta has left her), chain smoking all the while. She whips out her cell to show me texts in Spanish. I do my best, asking for clarification on a few words. She wants my opinion: what should she do? I think, "Probably not take my advice," but don't tell her as much.

Her hot pink fake nails can't be beat.

***

Taryn had told me via e-mail to check out her aunt's store in Santa Monica. It's called Seasons and on Montana Avenue. What kind of shop? No idea. Where on Montana? Beats me. With this information, we trudge up the street. Stop into Starbucks around 6th Ave. to get Luanna a coffee and see if they've heard of Seasons. Nope.
Luanna is itching to get back to Hollywood, so I barter to 14th Ave. We'll head back by then, successful or not.

The music catches our attention first: live drumming. We look to the storefront: Seasons -- A Most Unusual Gift Store.
We go in and I introduce myself to Taryn's aunt (definite family resemblance). Her partner, Buddy Helm, is giving a hand-drumming tutorial, which is being streamed live [check us out on the archives: Jan. 29th ~4pm, justin.tv/buddyhelm].

Back in the day, Buddy was Chuck Berry's drummer. He tells a story about being nervous for the first show. Mr. Berry's response: "Doesn't matter if you play bad, I'm Chuck Berry."

Chuck's words of wisdom: "All you need is a good ending so people know when to clap."

***

A few days later, Saturday, I have brunch in Venice Beach with Dan, my acting teacher from York. As we walk along the beach to Santa Monica, I tell him about bumping into Luanna.

The pier is packed. Dan says usually it's only busy like this in the summer. That's when I run into Kae, one of my hostel roommates.
Dan shakes his head, "I've lived here close to 30 years and this never happens to me. You're here 3 days, and it happens twice."

I smile and shrug. Stuff like that seems to happen all the time.