Alan Fox

Years ago I attended a musical performance at the Ahmanson theater in Los Angeles. About ten minutes into the show, a song that seemed to have racist undertones made me uncomfortable. I told my parents and my wife that I would meet them in the lobby after the show. Maybe my leaving the theater was an act of protest, but also, I found it hard to enjoy a performance that offended me.

And because a ticket is an option, not an obligation, I felt it was not only appropriate to leave, but the right thing to do. Fifteen minutes later my family decided to join me in the lobby.

While I might have purchased a ticket to the show, I was not obligated to stay. I can leave early or stay home and not attend the performance in the first place.

I remind myself of this concept when I am reading a book or watching a movie that isn’t holding my attention. While I might have purchased the book, I’m not obligated to spend any more of my time reading it if it isn’t worthwhile.

This applies to theater tickets and to other investments. Years ago, I was on vacation in Mexico, and I wasn’t enjoying myself. I decided to end the vacation early and head home.
My mom was aghast. “But you have pre-paid reservations at expensive hotels for the next four nights,”

That was true, but just because I had paid in advance for something does not obligate me to use it. There are many unread books on my library shelves.

This concept applies to every aspect of our lives.

Early in my career, I purchased a shopping center in San Dimas. The shopping center turned out to be a nightmare. There were non-stop problems with the tenants and, despite valiant efforts, it was an ongoing headache to manage. After several years of trouble, I decided to walk away at a significant loss. My time was valuable, and I refused to invest further in a center that was never going to bring me anything more than meager returns and many struggles.

Because every moment of life is a gift, we should make choices about how we spend our time accordingly.  If you’re in a relationship that is unhappy, or working in a career that is unsatisfying, maybe you should consider moving on. I encourage you to make the most of your life because it is precious and short!

Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to rooting for the Dodgers in the World Series.  I checked, and they are not playing in San Dimas.

Alan

Years ago I was traveling by boat on Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America.

Our guide asked if we would like to visit a family that lived on a floating island made entirely of reeds.  Of course, we said, “Sure.”

The family we visited, it turns out, was the family of our guide. They had lived on a floating island on the lake since before he and his brother were born. As part of the Uros community, their ancestral traditions and lifestyle had been passed down for years.

He told us that he and his brother had to row a boat two hours each day to go to school. That helped me put navigating around Los Angeles into a different perspective. (I used to complain about a thirty-minute walk to school.)

They say that travel is broadening, and I don’t think they’re talking about food (although indulgently dining while away from home can certainly broaden your waistline).  But seeing how other people live, can open your eyes to a variety of new ways of living that are quite different from your own. Especially when experiencing how some people live outside of the United States. Some of these experiences seem quite wonderful, like living on a floating island. But travel also exposes you to hardships and challenges which can make me quite grateful for my own good fortune.

But there are many resourceful ideas – like building an island out of reeds. Years ago, I thought a person could make a living just by importing good ideas and unusual products from one country to another. I expect, some people do. In fact, entire brands have been built on that premise, most notably Pier 1 and World Market.

Talking about travel and seeing the world… Daveen and I like to explore by taking a cruise. You only have to unpack once, and the scenery comes to you. Next year we plan to take a cruise on the Danube River — both ways.

But for now, I’m happy to be at home, which is always my favorite place to come back to. I’m writing this on my cellphone, which is a lot easier to use than my laptop, especially when I’m lying on my bed, relaxing.

My adventure on this beautiful October day?

I’m going to take a walk around the block. See you next week.

Alan

Last Sunday I enjoyed the rare treat of attending the 85th birthday party of a dear friend I’ve known for more than sixty years. There were about three hundred guests, and, by total chance, I sat next to Burt, a man I had met in high school debate, many years ago.

We had much to reminisce about. It isn’t often I see friends, or even acquaintances, from my youth. (Although I am now in touch with Mike, my high school debate partner, and plan to visit him soon.)

As an eighty-five-year-old, I’m certainly interested in longevity.  My doctor says that genetics are important, which bodes well for me. My grandfather lived to be 94, and my father survived to 104. I’ve also made many life-style changes to improve my health, and my weight is more than sixty pounds below its high point of 268 about six years ago.

I have a note on my calendar to attend the high school graduation of my four-year-old granddaughter Delilah. That will be in the year 2040 and I will be 100. (As an aside – never ask Siri how long you might survive. Yesterday I posed the question, and the answer was a discouraging 5.1 years, so I don’t think I’ll ask again anytime soon.)

Since the length of anyone’s lifetime is unknown until the end, part of the fun is enjoying each day. My dad said that he didn’t count the years, he focused on the days.

So happy Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day!

I’m going to take the rest of today off.

Alan