I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

One is devastated by the news from Los Angeles. Two friends (I have known them for over 66 years) Bob, who has contributed comment on the blog (Monday 28^th October 2024 and Friday 8th November 2024) and lives in the Palisades, and Lolita, who lives in Malibu, have lost everything in the fire. It is almost impossible to comprehend the overwhelming distress they are going through. Bob and Kirie have lived in their home for over 50 years. Over half their lives have been obliterated. Lolita’s studio (whose work can be seen at  https://www.lolitasaprielsculpture.com/home ) has been decimated along with the rest of her home and possessions. The frustration of being so far away and unable to offer assistance is more than somewhat distressing.

This is not the kind of event that should be happening to us in our 80’s. It is imperative that they be given every assistance to reconnect with living, looking forward and re-establishing the equilibrium they had achieved before the fire. Family and friends come forward, as should the state of California and the United States Government.  President Biden has made clear the commitment of the Federal Government to do so, whilst the President Elect and his cohorts sing from a different hymn sheet. While Mr Musk is prepared to bank roll the Reform Party in the UK with $100 million, he seems unable to offer the same, if not more, to a fire relief fund for Los Angeles. It’s loose change to him after all. Even ten times that much would be insignificant to someone with allegedly over 4000 times that amount in assets. He could even pay the entire $51 billion estimate and it would still leave him with $400 billion, according to Forbes. He is unlikely to do any of that so long as he is allied to the right of politics and his stooge Donald Trump.

Be that as it may, in the autumn of 2009, sixteen years ago, I visited Los Angeles and took a few videos at the 50 year class reunion, one of which was with Lolita. Herewith is that video of a truly lovely human being. It’s not very long but it gives you an idea.