MY ANNIVERSARY WITH LA AGAIN

Today is my anniversary with LA again! Yay! And I’m looking forward to getting out of the house to celebrate it. In the safest way possible, of course. I’m barely even going to get out of the car! Read on to see why. (Or, if you can’t wait, just watch my latest YouTube video about it, right here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gtPybsO6VE&feature=youtu.be.)

Me, on the left, across from 501 Gayley Ave., the first week I arrived in LA. (That’s Mitchell Gottlieb, surrounded by all his admirers.)

And me again, about a decade later, rocking the same shirt as I did at that same location all those years before!

While perusing my previous “Anniversary With LA” celebrations in this e-zine, I was shocked to discover that I had neglected to do so last year! Shame on me.

And there I am again, about another five years after the short hair pic.

That’s when I also noticed that a few years ago, I had promised to do a video of the story of how I came to live in LA to begin with, because it’s too long and nuanced to write in this e-zine. Well, better late than never, I always say; the entire journey is recounted in that new YouTube video I referenced above. But here’s a hint—it always ends with a photo op at my old stomping grounds near UCLA, 501 Gayley Avenue in Westwood, the first place I ever stayed in Los Angeles. It’s a fun story, so I hope you’ll watch it.

But for now I can tell you that, as much as I adore discovering other places in the world, and furthering my television career, as well, I’ve always passed on most auxiliary travel, including being offered two opportunities for my own talk show in London, to stay put in my beloved Los Angeles!!!

I never want to miss even one of my gajillion activities here in town. And now, when they’re all cancelled for the foreseeable future, which means that I’m finally free to travel, I cannot do so because of the dangers of catching the coronavirus everywhere! That’s a classic Catch 22 for you.

And then about another seven or so years after the previous one, here I am again at 501 Gayley Ave., this time in front of the door of my actual first apartment in that edifice.

But today is not about what I’m missing out on in life these days. It’s about how very grateful I am to live in this fabulous city! LA has been wonderful to me. I have never once, in all these years, had even a fleeting moment of regret that I chose to stay here after my arrival on that long ago July 27th.

So I thank LA for having me. And, as always on this date, I thank my old pal, Mitchell Gottlieb, for making it all possible to begin with, (although I believe that he cringes at the mention, thinking that Mr. X just might hold it against him!)

And remember, if you want to hear about my crazy teen-age journey, from Brooklyn to LA, (which I didn’t make too long this time, I promise,) here’s the link to my YouTube video on the subject again: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gtPybsO6VE&feature=youtu.be.

Happy Anniversary to LA and me once again!