his has been a wet and nostalgic day for me. Raining, sometimes quite hard, down to a drizzle now, with the prospect of broken clouds, warmer temperatures and some sunshine tomorrow. I had Christmas shopping to do and as I waited anxiously for the lights to change, I'd be like a jockey, mounted in the starter's gate, anxious to get ahead of everyone and across the streets. On four occasions people stopped me to ask why I was no longer on the air and wondered if I intended to return to the airwaves. Absolutely, it is my intention to return to the amazing audience that comprises Los Angeles and Southern California. In a fifty two year career, some 45 years have been spent in this area.
Each person, with whom I chatted, while getting somewhat soaked, had a memory of conversations they had heard over the years. One fellow remembered my being challenged by the great photographer Ansel Adams to ask him a question he'd never been asked. I met the challenge when I asked the old man, "Why is your nose so crooked?" He admitted no one had asked him that before. It appears that in the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco,as a child, a vase or a bookend fell off the shelf above his bed and broke his nose. His parents had promised that one day they'd get it straightened. It didn't happen. Crooked until the end!
Another middle-aged person, who had been a listener since his early teens, remembered a painful conversation with the former Vice President, Hubert Humphrey. A good man. He revealed, on the show, that his cancer was terminal. He was so thoughtful, sympathetic and eloquent, speaking ad lib about living and dying.
A young lady reflected on a conversation with a most unusual and successful broadcaster, Wolfman Jack. The interview was filled with stories from his legendary career. He never gave another interview. He died two weeks later.
Abba Eban was the renowned and distinguished United Nations' Ambassador. He was eloquent and verbose. Speaking of the State of Israel he was most enthusiastic, but every now and then he would say "in my humble opinion". Katie of Beverly Hills remembered what I said to him a couple of decades ago; "Mr. Ambassador, anyone who says "In my humble opinion" does not believe that his opinion is humble" I'd almost forgotten that exchange. I must go out walking again, in town, soon.

I began the day accompanying two of the Jackson grandchildren to school ,where the kindergarten and first graders put on their holiday concert.
They sang songs to celebrate Christmas, Kwanza and Chanukah, dressed in their best. It looked, to this grandparent, as if Baby Gap had united with Ralph Loren. Estimating I would put the audience of parents at something like 400 - each one of them knowing that their child was the best! And they were all correct!

As I mentioned in the last journal report at this website, I was looking forward to meeting, for the first time, in person, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives' I felt honored to be chosen to interview Speaker Nancy Pelosi (link) on stage at the Century Plaza Hotel. The planned 30 minute conversation lasted over an hour and had time permitted she would have stayed on for a long time sharing her opinions. Her energy is daunting. Her comments kept the 500 people in the audience enchanted. Sexist as this may sound, I think it is accurate: If there were more like her on Capitol Hill it would be a far more gracious and collegial atmosphere. Of course, following the President and Vice President she, in her capacity as Speaker, is next in line for the presidency.

Tomorrow we'll speak of the events of the past few days, from Madoff who made off with billions, to the Iraqi reporter who pitched his shoes at President Bush. Our chief executive's comment at the man's desperate and angry action, was simply "They were size ten".
Stay dry.