A reading of “Meet the Neighbors,” from Forty Bucks and a Dream, Stories of Los Angeles, because I sense what you really need this holiday season is to hear about ululating Armenian widows in West Hollywood, Amway-selling Scientologists in Atwater Village, gunplay in Silver Lake, and Evian-filled swimming pools in Beverly Park.
Speaking of holiday giving, Substack makes that a super-snap.
Thinking about an upgrade to paid? Please do! You’ll get 30 days free and access to new reporting from Portland; one such story, and a devastating one, dropping any day. I’ve also been summoned, by the Hutnyks of Lviv, back to Ukraine, to celebrate the end of the war. My thanks to everyone whose paid subscriptions helped me get there last time, and may I be going back soon.
Happy holidays all, may your days and nights be merry and bright xx
Meet the Neighbors (audio)