My first apartment!
It’s tiny—one room—eight blocks from the beach in Santa Monica. My own four walls. Literally. I climb the freshly painted white steps to the door that opens because I have the key. Oh-Oh! There is space enough for my piano, a sofa-bed, a desk, dresser and not much else. But it’s mine. Well for a price. I think the rent was $185 a month which in today’s market wouldn’t get you a floor. Or a roof.
I am SO happy. Now I can play the piano and sing and not have my mother yelling at me because she wants to watch T.V.
Free at last!
Until I meet my downstairs neighbor. Well I hear her first… Pounding a broomstick against her ceiling–my floor–as I play a cheery melody on the piano. The first time this happens it scares the hell out of me. I learn that she is a book editor and values silence–probably more than air.
I try to be respectful and considerate. Well as thoughtful as an emotionally stunted, immature twenty-one year old can be… I don’t play early. Or late. I cover the piano with a heavy blanket and weave strips of felt between the hammers and strings so the keys go thud, thud, thud. I play with the soft pedal. Always. But nothing satisfies her.
I like to sing in the shower too…until she starts banging a skillet against her wall. It is demoralizing. I want to be a professional musician. Well that’s my dream! But in reality I am floundering after graduating from college and take a job in a local emergency room. On the graveyard shift. As the admitting clerk. I don’t have a car so I ride my bicycle to work at 10:30 at night and back home through rush hour traffic in the morning.
I’m lucky to be alive. But that job… That job saves me. If you want to learn something profound about life itself, about…say…keeping things in perspective, then spend some quality time in an emergency room. It takes three years of real-world education to “right myself.” To move to another apartment in Santa Monica, on the ground floor, behind a tortilla factory, to leave my job in the ER and drop out of nursing school to sing in a seedy piano bar near downtown Los Angeles. It’s my first gig. The first of thousands…
I buy a car…
Santa Monica is only six miles from where I live now, but it seems a world away. The memories nibble at the edge of my thoughts as I drive west towards the ocean.
I’m making that sojourn Saturday, April 18th for the first ever Santa Monica Ukulele Festival located on the campus of Santa Monica High School. Just say “Samohi,” like the locals…
My ukulele group, The CC Strummers, perform a set of fun, sing-a-long songs in the outdoor Greek Amphitheater at 1:00 P.M. Later in the afternoon my husband Craig Brandau and I teach a strumming/fingerpicking workshop. Time for a pit stop as food trucks dish their goodies before the evening concert! A galaxy of ukulele performers (Craig and me too) play and share the stage with student musicians from Samohi. This festival is a fund-raiser for their music department. The audience is invited to bring their ukes and play along at the concert.
Please check out the Santa Monica Ukulele Festival Website for details and join us as we bring aloha spirit to Los Angeles.
I suspect my old neighbor—the one with the broomstick and skillet—is long gone. But she taught me something SO important. To hang in there. Even when no one is cheering you on. And because I did, this trip to Santa Monica will be especially sweet.
Shirley Torstenson
Hi Cali,
Loved your story about your first apartment and your music.
Just wanted to share my special moment today of feeling appreciated for performing music for the residents at the hospital where I work in the recreation department. I was playing the playing some popular music on the piano and singing along in my rudimentary ‘by the ear’ style. I expected at any moment to be interrupted and requested to assist two of our more reluctant residents back to their rooms where they usually preferred to remain due to their conditions and discomforts rather than spend any short interval of time in an activity program. Instead they both actually gave me “thumbs up,” smiles, and they stayed for the entire rest of the afternoon activity with me listening to me perform. I was very touched by this, it was such an honor since this was the first time either of them had stayed for an entire activity program.
Take care Cali & maybe I can see you at the Ukulele Festival tomorrow. 🙂
Cali
This comment is from Lucy I.
Love reading of your experiences, Cali! Reminds me of our N.Y. stay. Lived in a non-sound-proof apt. on Long Island. Bob was studying voice and of course had to practice every day. He practised through a ” bundled-up towel”– but of course it was not enough–because we got a nasty note through our mail slot. I was so angry. Didn’t even have the manners to speak to us.
The show Bob was rehearsing for–was an extravagant musical called “Chu Chem” and it was to play on Broadway (Cheryl Crawford was a big-time producer at that time). It was the story of a Jewish family living in China–many years ago. History claims there was a lost tribe of Jewish people living there at that time. The daughter falls in love with a Chinese prince and of course all hell breaks out. Bob was the younger brother of the Prince “heir.” And if I remember correctly–the Prince decides to marry the Jewish girl–and Bob’s character would then become the destined heir.
The sets and costumes were sumptuous and everyone was hoping for a success. However—the star performers–Molly Picon and Menasha Skulnick– did not get along. The show opened and closed in Philadelphia! By the way, Jimmy Shigeta was the lead Prince. Just one of those things. That’s showbiz!
Thomas Cardona
I miss you guys. I told Beverly recently that I can’t make it. After all the unpacking and buying do it yourself furniture, I’m exhausted. More than that, my back is aching terribly. Bayer aspirins are my best friend. Please post pix and videos!!!
Miss Cali. I joined the “you can jam” ukulele club here in Vegas. After attending my first session, a member e-mailed me about an upcoming intermediate class. She said I played beyond intermediate and it swelled my big head. The people are nice, Lynn Weaver runs the meet up. Judy Nelson e-mailed me. They have a web site.
Just type in you ” can jam Las Vegas”. Best of health to everyone, I’ll see you guys in the future at some point.
Cali
I’m glad you have landed safely in your new home in Las Vegas AND found a new ukulele home too. They are lucky to have you. Hope you are able to drop by and visit The CC Strummers when you are in town. All the best to you Tom.