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- Dinner with Neighbors #3
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In January, my house in the Pacific Palisades burned down. Now I’m trying to help rebuild the community through gathering.
THREE weeks ago I posted online asking f I could have dinner with neighbors.
Palisadians answered, and it's changing my life.
The other day, an ex-resident Bonnie hosted me, a man who rescued her from the fire (more on that below) and others in an apartment complex where near 100 former Palisadians have relocated to.
Bonnie's story puts her in rooms with international icons, with Jane Goodall beating out President Ford for her most memorable meeting.
But my favorite story makes it obvious why she invited us over for dinner. When she worked at USC, she created a program at that matched foreign students up with local families for thanksgiving meals when home was too far for a quick round trip. One year, there weren't enough matches, so she hosted 150 students the Tahitian Terrace clubhouse AND made additional bags of frozen turkey leftovers (a two week long cooking process) so everyone had leftovers.
Bonnie says "Because it's not Thanksgiving without leftovers."
The Man Who Saved Her Life
Juan, ex-trailer park maintenance man (now in need of a job) battled the fires with until the water pressure ran out on his hose.
At the end of his stand, the lit palm trees became pillars of fire. He got word that everyone had evacuated.
It was time to go. Then his phone rang. Someone left a puppy at home when they left for work. No problem, Juan got the puppy in his truck and started to go but... one thing didn't sit right.
He knew Bonnie as a friendly, stubborn, mobility-impaired woman who owned two cars. And both cars sat in the driveway. (Someone without a deeply caring, decades-long relationship with the residents could never...)
He busted in (she never locks the door) and found Bonnie unable to escape. So he helped her into his truck and took her to safety.
She says he saved her life. He says he's just grateful God put him in the right place at the right time.
We’re looking for a new place for him to work.
If you live in LA and need a maintenance man, let me know.
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