"Somewhere_Over_K-Town"

Hovering still while working on attaining the next phase of fullness / 9 Feb. '17

Storytelling 🍩 Relative to Experts, Excursions & Exercises

Here's an appreciation of a storyteller par excellence written by another with an abundance of local and California history expertise.  In his wonderfully-presented tribute [Interpreter of Dreams: On the Passing of Kevin Starr of California] D.J. Waldie provides us with a significant insight into Professor Starr's character: "He did not think that storytelling – mere storytelling to critics more fond of theory than of lives – was work too humble for a historian." So, what can I do if or when I want to tell a story?  Maybe take a picture; create an image; and then endeavor to emulate the best historians of California who have shown us all a way.

While I don't recall many of the details relative to the origins of this photograph, I'm fairly sure that I was with my brother Mike when I first came across this local landmark. We made a few excursions to Southern California while we were roommates in Arizona between 1979 and 1984, and I likely had a disposable Kodak camera with me most of those times.  Funny, but I don't think I've been back to the 'Randy's Donuts' site during the 33 years since I've resided in So. Cal. This is not to say that this is a remarkable image in any way - there are lots of accessible photos of this iconic structure - but rather it's a personal and random example of a picture that can be positioned to spark the telling of a story.  That is the process I will employ from this point forward in an effort to turn the time and work I put into LAXjiMAB Chronica into a relevant engagement.