Author Archives: Bob Pierce, Jr.

The Times Must Be A Changing

The Pierces live at The Meadows condominium complex. It is apparent that with rising real estate prices, the character of the complex is changing. Lots more young families are moving in. So, more kids. This is all evident on Halloween, when all the little ghosts and goblins come out for trick-or-treating, and knock on the doors of the old guard residents. The most poignant episode from last night’s candy hunt was the lady who answered the door with her little bowl of candy in hand. She had been waiting. She told us that she has lived in her unit for 17 years and it was the first time anyone had come to the door on Halloween. But she had her candy ready . . .

Disneyland and Burrito Tour 2017

Three things.

Disneyland
El Zamorano of Santa Ana
Al and Bea’s of Boyle Heights

And the winner is . . .

El Zamorano (don’t forget the cucumber or horchata drink!)

Real America

Robert finally picked up a copy of Hillbilly Elegy this week.  He’s a little late. The book has been widely seen as describing some important reasons this country is in its current presidential and party politics mess.  It describes the childhood of J.D. Vance, later to become a graduate of a famous law school (first letter “Y”).  He grew up in Appalachia and then Ohio and he describes the life and culture of his “hillbilly” tribe (i.e., Scotch-Irish poor).  Not pretty stuff. Actually, Robert recently also read Theft by Finding, David Sedaris’s diaries. Which, is pretty much the same book.  One a memoir flavored with social science.  The other a diary flavored with humor.  Each book is filled with descriptions of incredibly crude Southern people being destructive and mean.  Also, it is difficult to know how much of each book is actually true.

 

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