Bertha June Ast Garofalo: My Mom

Mom

Bertha June Ast Garofalo
April 8, 1921 -- February 12, 1994
Born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Her father was Robert Ast.
Her brother was Bob Ast-Blaize

Family moved to Los Angeles in 1928.
Her Mother, Mabel, married Roy Blaze.
She grew up with three brothers: Bob, Bill, Eugene.
She graduated from George Washington High School.

She married Michael James Garofalo in 1943.
We lived in Bandini, ELA, 1944-1964.
She was a hardworking housewife and mother.
She cooked Midwest style, Italian, and Mexican foods.
She taught us how to live properly and be good persons.

 

 

She raised three boys: Michael, Paul and Philip.
Sent her children to St. Alphonsus Catholic School.

 

Karen, Alicia, June

 

She lived in Hacienda Heights, 1964-1994.
She did not drive until she was 55.
She had many friends in the St. John Vianny Women's Guild.
She traveled the USA in a trailer with my dad.
She went on all our camping trips. She was a walker.
Karen and I lived next door and helped care for mom and dad.
She helped her grandchildren 1982-1994.
She loved reading mystery, suspense, and American West novels.
She was more a Lutheran than a Catholic.
She suffered from and died from bowel cancer in 1994.
My dad died from heart disease and stroke in 1996.

We sold the Hacienda Heights house in 1997.
Karen and I moved to Red Bluff in April of 1998.

Shoveling Up Some Dharma

 

The Fireplace Records, Chapter 47

Shoveling Up some Dharma

Caught on the Edges of the West: Highway 101

The Fireplace Records

Four Days in Grayland

Shoveling Up Some Dharma

Mixing up with water a 60 pound bag of Redi-Mix cement, by hand, using a flat metal mixing bin, water hose, a flat-nosed shovel, and shoveling work efforts by me.  We used the mixed concrete slush, "Mud", shovel by shovel full of "Mud" over and and over. The hand shoveled batch of concrete slush, carefully wetted for various building constrution projects, created over and over.

Repeated practice can improve one's skills, reduce workoad, and give to us the real life body-mind experences of working, 
ways of being-in-the-world, when making things, producing things, doing things.

This sort of workday construction shoveling efforts for eight hours of work a day, 
five days a week;
just think about it,
sink your analytical and feeling sharp teeth
into the feeling memories of when mixing concrete.
I never worked that hard.

[The back of my mind
was bounced around and hurt.]

My father bough two acres of a hillside property, with a clear wide view of the San Gabriel Valley, California, in 1957, in Hacienda Heights,  He lived and worked there at "the ranch" for forty years from 1957-1997. In 1997 my dad died at age 82, of complications from congestive heart failure, old age, diabetes, and strokes.  

In the 1960's I would do 8 to 12 hours of construction work at the ranch each week, attend Catholic High School, play high school team sports, and later attend college and work at the City of Commerce Public Library.

The land was in the Hacienda Heights, Puente Hills,
Turnbull Canyon, North Whittier Heights;
and Colima Road - Highway 30 Regions;
From Rolling Springs on High at the junction with the Angeles Crest Highway
south to Huntington Beach low tide,
85 miles, up to down, Snow to Surf, a scenic ride.

I'd take a bus from Hacienda Heights on Colima Road 30,
through the many southern cities,
Orange County Newer,
and ending at the Seashore at Huntington Beach CA.
I had cousins living in the Stanton suburban rectangles.
We lived within 25 miles of the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach.

I would walk a lot,
having all-weather awakenings.

Joining our summertime emblems:
kites and flapping canvas tens,
keeping wind and sand at bay;
Less clothing, showing more human flesh
and shape, feeling open in the sun;
Wet with Sea surf, boogie boarding or body surfing,
a cool satisfied wet body-mind,
seventeen and strong
[eighty now and fading on.]

Sitting huddled around a San Clemente State Beach campfire,
on a dark winter night, exploring youtful enjoyments.

Standing on wet piers, looking at the waves rocking below,
up and down, back and forth, steadily to the shore,

On some lost late autumn morning
long ago in the San Clemente Pier  in a parking lot,
people sorting pier fishing gear, bait, food, drink, raingear, chairs ...
The Pacific, always calling, draws the fishermen nearer.

The jetties drew me, the Bays and harbors drew me,
the hard relentless winter strorm seas smashing
into the Bandon Oregon Sea Stacks and rocky cliffs
all drew me, inticiced me, startled me, the rivers drew me;
seeing the tide lines that mark at the shore, 
living with these fluctuations, dying with these fluctuations,
doomed yet divine;
drawn to the Pacific, clinging to the Pacific
a lifeline, a sturdy vine, a factual mind
a poem, just hanging on, on a fisherman's line, sometimes rhymed.
1,000 Collaged Images of the Golden Gate Bridge in my brain.
Rolling in and out, past roadway signs
[Highway 101 at Port Angeles, Aberdeen, Astoria, Newport, Brookings,
Eureka, Redwoods, Santa Paula, San Francisco, San Jose,
Salinas, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Pedro, San Diego .]

Sitting now on a rocky cliff at Bandon. Below us are massive sea stacks 
splattered with surf spray as huge waves come smashing into rock.
Powerful sights and sounds never forgotten.

My Birthday

Today is my 76th birthday.  Michael P. Garofalo, January 23, 1946 -  

My daughter, Alicia, and I, 2021

My two grand-daughters, Makenna and Katelyn, and I, 2021

My parents were Bertha June (1921-1994) and Michael James Garofalo (1916-1997).  My two brothers were Paul (1948-) and Phillip (1952-).  

My parents and I in 1947
In South-Central Los Angeles

My maternal Grand-Mother Mabel Ast Blaize on the left,
and my Paternal Grand-Mother Lena Garofalo in 1947.  

Paul, Big Mike Dad, Philip, Me, Mom
Circa 1958

I grew up in East Los Angeles and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Grammar School, Cantwell Catholic High School (Honors Diploma), California State University at Los Angeles (B.A. Philosophy), and the University of Southern California (M.S. Library Science).  

I worked for the City of Commerce Public Library System from 1963-1969.  

Blanche Karen Eubanks and I were married in 1967.  We celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary in 2021.    

Karen and I in 1970
Biloxi, Mississippi

Served in the United States Air Force, Air Training Command, from 1969-1973.  Honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant.  

I worked for the County of Los Angeles Public Library System from 1974 to 1998.  I retired as a Library Administrator, and Regional Administrator for the East Region in the San Gabriel Valley.  I worked at offices in the Compton library, Bell Gardens library, East Los Angeles library, Norwalk library, Huntington Park library, and West Covina library.  

We lived in Bell Gardens and Hacienda Heights - both in the East Los Angeles  metropolitan area.  

Karen and I, and our families and community, raised two children, Alicia June and Michael Delmer.  We now have two grandchildren, Katelyn and Makenna. 

Alicia June, my daughter, and I in 1976.

Alicia, me, Karen, Mick, circa 1990

My colleagues in East Region at our
Community Library Managers Meeting, Circa 1993
For 15 years, I was the Regional Administrator for 22 libraries
in East Region of the County of Los Angeles Public Library System

I started creating websites in 1995, and a blog in 2005.       

Karen and I lived in Red Bluff, North Sacramento Valley, California, from 1998-2017, in a rural area on a five acre parcel.  We both worked part-time for school districts.  I was the Technology and Media Service Supervisor and District Librarian for the Corning Union Elementary School District; and Karen was a Special Education Instructional Aide.  We both enjoyed gardening and landscaping projects. 

 

Red Bluff, California, Sunny Garden

Yosemite, North Dome, 2005

Sean, me, Mick
Alicia, Karen, April
Circa 2007

Karen retired on June 14, 2014, after working part-time since 1998 as a Special Education Instructional Assistant for the Tehama County Department of Education in Red Bluff, California.  

Mike retired on July 1, 2016, after working part-time since 1998 as the Technology and Media Services Supervisor and District Librarian for the Corning Union Elementary School District in Corning, California.  

I taught yoga, taijiquan, qigong, pilates, and other fitness classes at the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff from 2002-2016.

In 2017, we moved to Vancouver, Washington.  We are now both retired.  

Family in Oregon in 2013

Vancouver, Washington, 2017
Our New Home

Flinn and Garofalo Family Gathering
Vancouver, Salmon Creek, Washington, Summer 2021

I am very fortunate in having fairly good health, a positive attitude, and stamina for work and play for all of my long life.  I was fortunate in being able to be productively employed for 54 years, and earning good medical insurance for Karen and I.  

I am a philosopher by inclination and practice.  

I have been active with various sports, physical conditioning programs, walking, fitness, Taijiquan, Yoga, hiking, etc., during my entire healthy long life.  

However, during this past COVID epidemic period I did not walk each day, kind of huddled in my home office and read, smoked too much cannabis, daydreamed, lolly-gaged, goofed-off, and acted like a lazy depressed retiree.  Therefore, I was very out of shape at the end of 2021.  

My personal goals for 2022 are to:  

1. Maintain a dietary habit that reduces my blood sugar. 
2. Reduce my body weight to 225 pounds. 
3. Walk and exercise every day. 
4.  Read and write:    Four Days in Grayland     Cloud Hands Blog. 

5.  Help and take care of my wife, family and friends. 
6. Support humanistic and environmental causes. 
7.  Explore Photography using my Canon SX740 camera, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop; and work on our Family Photo Project😊 with Karen. 

8. Enjoy old age. 
9. Travel to the Coast and Yurt camp each month for four days.  
10.  Yet to be Determined, New Opportunities, Unknown

That about sums it up!

Elvira Memories

I lived in East Los Angeles for 54 years. Television viewing included watching some horror movies hosted by Elvira.

"Cassandra Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of the horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ-TVwearing a revealing, black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Elvira's Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation. Her wickedly vampish appearance is offset by her comical character, quirky and quick-witted personality, and Valley girl-type speech."

Retired from the County of Los Angeles Public Library System on February 1, 1998

I worked for the City of Commerce Public Library (1962-1969.); and, worked for two years as the Head of Technical Services, Librarian II.  From 1969-1973 I was a Personnel Specialist E-5 in the United States Air Force.  I began my career with the Los Angeles County Public Libraries in 1974 as a Reference Librarian at the Compton Public Library.  I was the branch manager of the ELA Library for many years, and regional and systemwide audio-visual services coordinator.   I retired as the Regional Administator for East Region of LACOPL on February 1, 1998.  I worked part-time for the Corning Union Elementary School District (K-8) as the Technology and Media Services Supervisor or District Librarian from 1998 until June of 2016, and retired at the age of 70.  And, during the same period, I worked part-time for the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff, California, as a Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan and fitness instructor.

From 1985 to 1998 I worked as a Library Administrator, assigned to lead as the Regional Administator for East Region (21 libraries, 2 bookmobiles).  22 years have passed since I retired on February 1st from the Los Angeles County Public Library and moved to Red Bluff, California in 1998.

So, February 1st is a very important date in my life.  Karen and I, and our son Mick, all moved in 1998 from Hacienda Heights, San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles County, California, about 550 miles north to Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, California.  From huge metropolitan Los Angeles, we moved to rural Tehama County, with a population of 50,000.  Red Bluff City had around 15,000 residents.  From a small suburban lot, to a five acre parcel with a spacious home.  The Spirit of Gardening was born in 1998.

During the 1980's and 1990's period, here are some pictures of the people I had the good fortune to work with:

East Region Library Managers and Regional Coordinators

circa 1994

Administrative Council (AdCon)  COLAPL circa 1993

Margaret Wong, Mike Garofalo, Lilly Loo

How I looked back then in 1980-1990:

1999-2016 Corning Elementary School District

Technology and Media Services Supervisor

or District Librarian

Part-time 24 hours per week school year

Library Services Team CUESD
2014

Karen and I would take an unpaid week off work each February, from 1999-2014.
The deserts east of the Sierra and Cascades are great in February.

So, February 1st reminds me of past good times.

Watched His Excellent Basketball Work

Like millions of Los Angeles Laker NBA basketball fans, Karen and I were shocked and saddened yesterday to learn that Kobe Bryant, star player of the Lakers for 20 years, and his 13 year old daughter died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California.  Nine people on the way to a girl's basketball game were killed in the accident.  Our heartfelt condolences to all affected by this tragic accident.

Kobe, the Mamba, the Black Mamba, #8 and #24.  He played for the Lakers for 20 years.  He helped lead a Laker's team to the NBA Finals 7 times, and won 5.  He helped lead a Laker's team into the NBA Playoff series for 15 seasons.  What Lakers fan could ask for more?  His basketball skills on offense and defense were among the best I have ever been fortunate to have watched.

Kobe was an interesting, intelligent, multi-lingual, and creative man.  Reports portray him as a good father.  After his retirement in 2016, we have seen other sides of Kobe as a man and businessman.  His International connections, his Chinese popularity, his wealth and fame, his fluent Spanish language skills, his Academy Award, and his entrepenurian ventures all pointed toward success in the future.

Unfortunately, sadly, a helicopter mountain crash ended it all for him, his daughter, seven others, and for millions of us basketball fans.

Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020.   Among All Our Laker Memories    Thanks Kobe!  You helped make us proud as a City.







I have enjoyed watching and playing the game of basketball since I was a child of 8.  I was a tall and skinny boy, and 2nd team sub on my Cantwell high school basketball teams.  I enjoyed light-duty casual pick up basketball games with guys untill I was 40 years old.  It was always fun to play and to watch good players show their game.

I lived in Los Angeles for 52 years.  I started listening to the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Basketball Team on AM radio with Chic Hearn in 1962.  I also followed UCLA Bruin championship basketball back then.  I watched Laker away games for decades with Chick Hearn on KTLA television.  After 1998, I watched on national TV or on NBA League Pass televison on DISH or XFinity.  I have been to games at the old Forum in Inglewood.  My father-in-law was a Lakers fan.  My co-workers in Los Angeles were Laker's fans.  So, I have been an LA Lakers fan for 58 years.  Here is blog post of mine in 2009 when our team won another NBA Championship, and I was living in Red Bluff, California.

We are very hopeful that in 2020 the Laker's team (James, Davis, Green, Pope, Cuzma, Magee, Howard, et. all) will be the top seed in the upcoming playoffs.

[Naturally, I watched most of the Oakland Golden State Warrior games on NBA League Pass from 2014-2019.  They were the best in the Western Conference, went to 5 NBA Finals appearances in a row, and the Lakers did not make the playoffs.  I also now watch more Portland Trail Blazers on NBA League Pass since I now live about 20 miles north of Moda Center.  Basically, I root for college or professional teams on the Pacific Coast.  The PAC12 is the Conference of Champions!!]

I have watched on television, or listened to, or read about, or talked about, or cheered for, or lamented (2014-2019) about 58 Laker Teams during 58 NBA seasons.  I have watched and cherred for, or all hung our heads in dignified defeat, the Laker 1st Team Greats: Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy.  Add in guys like Pau Gasol, Gail Goodrich, Michael Cooper, Wilt Chamberlin, Jamal Wilkes, A C Green, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Luke Walton, Michael Thompson, Horace Grant, ... the list goes on and on ... 2nd Team, 3rd Team, rookies, veterans, Kobe at 18!  Add in this exciting mix are key people like Jerry Buss, Jack Kent Cooke, Jeanie Buss, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz, trainers, media people, writers, and celebrities galore.  The LA Lakers were and now are "Showtime."

Players come and go, decades pass.  Who is the greatest of the All?  Who is the Lakers GOAT.

The NBA Finals is the Super Bowl or World Series of professional basketball.

The Lakers have been to the NBA Finals 31 times, the most of any professional sports team.

Laker's Teams are the GOAT!

"Low Rider" by War

Here are various versions of the 1970's rock hit "Low Rider" by War.  The harmonica player for War was the famous Lee Oskar.

I lived 52 years in East Los Angeles.  I've seen a few Low Riders in my days in the hood. 

Today, in Vancouver, Washington, there is three inches of snow on the ground.  A good day for playing your harmonica. 








How to Play "Low Rider" on a harmonica.