In the What Have You Category

I climbed up on my bed this afternoon and turned on the TV--source of drama, instruction, entertainment, and, always, truth. I sometimes use television to put me to sleep. There it is, my confession. Today I heard this.

"I just couldn't survive without advice from my Go-to People."

That's Brook Shields, and you see her quite close to the floor, in push-up position, holding weights in one hand. Remarkable, I'm thinking. I'm also thinking her go-to people advised her to work out, keep fit.

But no. It's a commercial for Colgate toothpaste, the toothpaste recommended by her go-to person for teeth, her dentist. She said it, I didn't.

I see a dentist when I have to. I wouldn't call him one of my go-to people.

Wait. Do I have go-to people?

It's Notable

At Costco today, on the display TVs, I saw Bonnie Hunt, a quite attractive woman who has a daytime show. I know little about her, except that she has been in movies, has been married and divorced, and has no children.

Then I realized that the other two women with daytime TV shows, the two who have huge followings, have no children either. Oprah lives with What's-His-Name, oh yes, Steadman. Both in their 50s, they have never married and have no children. Ellen DeGeneres lives with--is "married" to--What's-Her-Name and has had no children.

It seems singularly significant to me that the women women watch and love and look to and believe in and trust and follow and take their word for things--come on, you know they do--have never had the experience in life that makes women really know stuff, stuff they can learn in no other way.

I find that notable. Don't you?

Allie Update

Just talked to Allie. She never did leave her home. She was told to go but "something inside" told her to stay. She kept watching the fire and saw that the flames she saw just north of her property earlier in the day had been extinguished by the time she got the sheriff's evacuation order.

She is well, and she is very grateful to be so.

I'm figuring the something inside was inspiration/mixed with intelligence/mixed with the thought of having to be in a high school gymnasium with hundreds of other people of all ages and all kinds of bathroom needs, none able to meet them in a very private way. Hey, she's the one who spoke of it just now.

Her card to me came yesterday. Assured me of her safety. I called today just to hear her voice and the details and to tell her I'm glad all is well.

Something I realized today, just today, 89 may sound old, but she will never be old. I told her so.

Allie

My Aunt Allie lives in La Cañada at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, just a few blocks west of Angeles Crest Highway. I called her Friday, concerned because the fire was near where she lives. As I read about it, I knew the places mentioned, and they are close to her home on Journey's End Drive.

She called me back Saturday, had not yet evacuated, but Sunday my call to her went unanswered. I think that means she and her son Brett have left her home. Reports today are not good--the fire there doubled over night, and when I spoke with her Saturday she could see the flames over the big trees at the back of her property.

Her name is Alice Callicott. I am named for her, although my mother spelled my name with a y. Allie is 89, still beautiful, still with all her wits about her, still with her sense of humor and her beautiful voice. My three daughters know her.

She asked that I pray for her and her home. I ask all who read this to do the same.

The Windy City

Let me just say this about Chicago: I love it, want to go back, will go back, want some of my kids to go with me. Sears Tower (I know, it's Willis Tower now but not to me and not, I found out, to a lot of Chicagoans), rides in to the city on the L, those gorgeous buildings (and I forget how many of them Oprah has lived in), speedboat ride on Lake Michigan, bus tour around the city, concert out at Ravinia, strolling on the Navy Pier--what's not to love?

It wasn't windy. The weather was perfect. The Chicago River somehow a reassuring presence. The room at the Embassy Suites spacious and comfy and, thanks to my son-in-law Ben, affordable. People were nice. And I'm just getting started.

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town,
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around.
You'll love it . . .

I did love it. I want to go back. I said that already.

Morning Gift

A humming bird visited my Rose of Sharon this morning, taking delicate sips from the delicate roses. Such a sighting is rare in my yard--I don't put up feeders with colored sugar water. I did once and had no takers. So I am doubly glad I planted the Rose of Sharon, glad for the flowers, a treat for my eyes, glad for their color, their nectar, to bring the humming bird.

Of course, I'll watch for him now and hope, though I may never see him again. But I might.

My Promise

More later.