Another Stiletto Story. "Ampa!"

Standing on the corner of Rampart and Dumaine. No, that's a song. Standing on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Shmentura waiting for the light to change. Guy pulls up in a large, black SUV, ten-year-old kid sitting next to him in the front seat. The light changes and no more than one tenth of a second later the suv honks the old man in front of him driving an old Toyota.

Plot look at the guy in the SUV's face and it's already furious, hard lines across his mouth, face getting red, little boy facing the street, head down. Slams the horn, honks and honks and honks and the old guy in front of him is looking in the rear view with his shoulders shaking. Maybe he's illegal. Maybe he's just sleepy. Maybe the guy in the SUV's wife is in the hospital. Maybe he's only got ten more minutes to claim his lottery ticket.

Another Stiletto City story -- it's only 8AM on a pretty Saturday morning and already this guy is heading for a meltdown. And yet, everywhere down here the flowers are exploding. Mummy P's azaleas, clivia and kalanchoe are just gorgeous. Best of all, yesterday Belly walked up to Plottie and said: "Ampa!" "Ampa!" Then she held out her arms and walked over and kissed the dog.

Oooooooh, Baby Baby. This is so nice.

This morning both Duck and Plot woke up thinking about BZWZ and this distance of thousands of miles. Now that her decision about grad school is getting closer, and it looks as if she may stay on the East Coast, that distance feels greater yet.

Plottie also remembers how long he stayed away from home at her age and long past. Phooey.