A Million Ways To Spend Our Time

Part 3: Home-Buying Woes and a Lack of Adventure

"Uggghhh!" I threw my book at the wall in frustration. I was having a bad case of writer's block, and my essay was due by Friday for my journalism class. It was already Wednesday, so my adrenaline and anxiety was beginning to run wild. Work tonight had been pretty mundane, with no famous or obnoxious guests rolling in. At least I was getting better about remembering what the regular customers liked to order. Mr. Chin said I could receive a $0.25 raise if I continued improving at the current rate I was going. That wouldn't get me a new home, but I'd take it. My current apartment was only being funded by my parents for the first year (which was beyond generous in their minds), so I had to start saving up as soon as I could.

We were required to write an editorial essay on the current politics of the nation, and it seemed everything I began to write just did not flow. I thought maybe some music would help, so I turned on the radio. "All You Need Is Love" blared at me from the speakers. All I need is to be able to write, I thought to myself. I had several newspapers spread out across the room, in case my memory failed me on a current event.

Upon attempting to describe the tension between countries during the Vietnam War, my phone rang. "Hello?" "Hey Alana, how's it going?" Aurora also happened to be in the same journalism class. "Ugh! I'm going to scream if I don't get a random burst of insight. I feel like a hamster on a wheel here. How's yours?""I just finished mine." "Lucky. Who did you cheat off of?" I smirked. "You know I don't do that." "Yeah, I"m just kidding. I have got to come up with something. It's already Wednesday." "How bout I come over tomorrow and take a look at what you have? Maybe I can give you a sense of direction."My eyes lit up. "You would do that for me?" "Of course. What are friends for?" "I appreciate that so much. Thanks a million." "No problem. I'll see you then, okay? I have to get to bed soon." I looked over at the clock, which said 11:30 PM. "Yeah, me too. I say that like I'll sleep." "Just try to stay calm. You'll need to be firing on all four cylinders tomorrow since you have school and work." "Yeah, true. Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow then." "Alright, sleep well." "You too. Goodnight." "Goodnight." Wondering what I would do without Aurora, I hung up the phone. I would just have to sleep on it and hope for the best. That night I dreamed of a giant, nasty brown tsunami, ready to come collapse on my apartment. How fitting, I thought as I got up to get dressed. I made sure to make enough coffee to drink two cups, knowing I had a long day ahead of me.

Aurora was true to her word and did come over that night, and together we created a fully functional, flowing essay. "Thank God that's over." I threw another book at the wall in front of me just to show my elation. Aurora laughed. "That must be your frustration mechanism." "One of them." I got up to go get a bottle of sangria for us to share, returning with it and two blue wineglasses. "So how is it going with your music buddies?," Aurora asked me with a growing smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes." I saw Jim the other day on the beach. He apologized for his recent behavior, then told me how I wasn't able to see something correctly and how one day I could be somebody artistically." Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yeah. I told him I already was somebody and that he had a girlfriend Pamela he needed to be talking to instead of me." "He sounds like he's not always very happy with her." "That's what I'm gathering too, but I mean, he's Jim Morrison. He can have anything or anybody he wants." "Maybe that's become the problem. And maybe he needs people around him to sort of ground him back to Earth." Aurora could be pretty damn insightful at times. "That would make sense. But why talk to me?" "Don't play yourself down. You're unique and special, plus he probably isn't used to people like you." "I don't know, maybe." "Lucky girl, you." She smiled. We finished our glasses of sangria and looked over at the clock. "Well, time for me to go home." "Okay, I'll walk you out." I went with Aurora to her car and we said our goodbyes.

The holiday months flew by. I stayed at my parents' house for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and was eagerly looking forward to going back to school in January. I was sure that Jim was probably at Pamela's parents' house or something, getting into God-knows-what kinds of mischief. I imagined Ray and Dorothy celebrating and cooking together, and Robby and John with their girlfriends  Lynn and Julia I had read about. My thoughts only wandered to them on occasion,since I was preoccupied with my friends and family. Aurora's mother had passed away several years ago and her father was overseas in the military, so I invited her to my parents' house for the festivities. She meshed and got along well with everyone, and it was very much like one never-ending celebration.

Since I had achieved the honor roll and already passed painting and journalism, I was now moving on to more 3-D forms of art, including pottery and a drawing class. I was still required to take science and mathematics, but was allowed to take a creative writing class. I was stoked.

I decided to walk to the local art gallery to see if they still had room for me to join their upcoming art show. Painting seemed to be easier for me than drawing, so I was willing to give a few of my paintings a shot at recognition. I had already dropped off the paintings I was willing to submit, but wanted to make sure in case I needed to come get them. Aurora had helped me select ones we felt were the most provocative and appealing. As I was making my way into the front door, I heard a familiar voice. "And what we were thinking about is something that would go in the foyer room, just to give it more of a floral accent - " The clanging of the wind chime hitting the door frame as I closed the door interrupted his request. I looked up to see that familiar face with that sandy brown hair again. "Hey! How are you doing?" Dorothy and Ray smiled at me. They were such friendly, generous people. "Good. How are you?" "We're great. Just in here to get some artwork to go in our new home. I assume you're getting some yourself?" I gulped, trying to keep my composure. "Well...no, actually, I....was just here to inquire about my entries for the next art show." Ray's face lit up with surprise. "Art show? You're an artist?" "Why, yes...I am. I'm no Van Gogh or anything, but I am in art school." Ray smiled. "Hey, when I was in film school at UCLA I still considered myself a new director." "You went to UCLA? I tried not to sound like a goo-goo-eyed fan. "That's where I go to." "It's a great place, I loved it. What type of medium do you use?" "Uh, just watercolors and oil paintings for now. I'm going to school for pottery and drawing though." "Oh wow, that's wonderful. Dorothy and I were just talking about how we wanted something more original and authentic, something from the true soul of an artist and not just generic and impersonal." Katrese, the owner spoke up. "You know her paintings are in the back if you would like to see them, Mr. Manzarek." She winked at me as I tried not to turn as red as a beet. "Oh yes, let's see them!" "Coming right up." Katrese went to the back and grabbed my three paintings. The first one was of a local mountain and valley scenery complete with visible rooftops, the second my painting of Venice Beach I had made in class,and the third of a sunrise over a flower garden next to a large yellow house. "These are beautiful!" Dorothy's eyes got larger as she examined them, particularly the one with the flower garden. "And just think, Dorothy, she's just started out and is already doing things like this? Wait until she finishes school and has years of progression under her belt!" I wanted somebody to pour water over my face to make sure this wasn't a dream. "I'm glad you like them." "We definitely do. I have an idea. Dorothy?" He and Dorothy stood very close to each other for a moment, talking at a low volume. They finished their conversation and looked up at me again. "So Dorothy and I have decided that you should come to our new house and get a good look around. She will show you everything she has up for decorations and this way we can commission you to make us a few paintings. What do you say?" My jaw nearly dropped. "Wow....sure, I would love to." "Great.How is tomorrow at 6:30, unless you'll be at work." "Oh, no, I work tonight. I'll be off work tomorrow after my classes.""Good deal. Here is our address." Dorothy wrote down their address and handed it to me on a small slip of receipt paper. "We look forward to seeing you then. Art is so much more fulfilling when it's personal." I was nearly at a loss for words. "Yes, it is. So Katrese, am I still on for the art show?" "Yep. You sure are." "Okay, I just wanted to make sure. Thanks everyone. Glad I came by today." "So are we. See you tomorrow then?" "I'll be there with bells on. Have a great day." With bells on? I always hated that expression yet I'm saying it to Ray Manzarek. Ugh. "You too. Thanks again uh...what was your name?" "Alana." "Alana. See you tomorrow." I quickly stepped out of the art gallery, so dazed I had to concentrate on how I was walking. Not in a million years would I have thought I'd ever even meet celebrities, much less be invited to one of their homes. Maybe Jim wasn't so crazy after all seeing something in me, even though he hadn't even seen my artwork.