The Good Life

Why are humans seemingly incapable of fully appreciating what they have while they have it? Again out of chronological order, this is me standing by my "wing" of the Tareco Drive house I shared with Uncle Bob (Bob Combs)in 1967 before I bought the Troost house in North Hollwyood. Set high above the Hollywood Freeway, the Cahuenga Pass and the slightly-smogged city spread out below. A good life, indeed.

First Home, L.A. Style

I really loved my first home in L.A., on Troost St. in North Hollywood. I felt very...uh..."L.A.". It had a pool (how California can you get?)and it was comfortable and spacious and...well, I loved it, as shows in this back-yard photo. (The sliding glass doors led to my bedroom).

Early L.A.: Terry

I met Terry not too long after I moved to L.A.in 1966. One night, at a crowded party, he asked me to dance. (I do not dance.) Needless to say, that's all it took. We remained friends until I moved from L.A. I heard Terry moved to San Francisco, and we lost track of one another. I've tried to find him, but to no avail.

The photo above was taken at Venice Beach in 1966. As you can see, I have always been an expert at concaling how I feel about things...and people.

Early California

I arrived in California in 1966, and not too long thereafter was dating a guy whose best friend, Bob Combs, was from Chicago. We met and Bob and I became friends. When Skip, our mutual friend, moved to Texas, the opportunity arose to rent a large house in the Hollywood Hills, and we took it. We each had a separate wing of the house and shared the common areas. Bob, about whom I've written in my Dorien Grey and Me blog, remained my dear friend until his death, at 90, earlier this year.

And the Years Rush By.....

The rosy-cheeked innoence of babies and youth are all too soon trampled by the onrushing years. The photo above was taken at my second L.A. home around 1983. I am no longer who I was, but not yet who I will become.

First House

Doing a bit more time-skipping here, but I bought my first house, at 6445 Troost Ave., North Hollywood, CA, in 1968. At that time, a single man could not buy a house without a co-signer...my parents did the honors, bless them. Here I am with my mom and cousin Shirley Fearn, in 1968. I think I'll write a blog about it (http://www.doriengreyandme.blogspot.com) one day soon.

The Working World

I tried, but I don't think I was ever cut out for the working world. As with team sports, I never did quite catch on to what it was all about, what the rules were, or why I was playing, other than to pay the rent and eat. Anyway, here's an example of the old (post) college try, from my days at Duraclean, International (circa 1960-1966).