Keeping Up With The Cohens: Past Lives

I don't know why, but for the first time in a while, I had a pang of homesickness for Los Angeles. Maybe because I know it's spring there and a most gorgeous time of year. Maybe because last night I was watching "Moonlight," which is set in L.A. Whatever the reason, as I was watching the show last night (on Tivo, that is), and seeing places I've driven and lived and visited on television, I missed L.A. The Place, not just my friends this time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning our decision to move here, and I love our life here. I guess it might have something to do with coming up on my one-year anniversary, too. I can't believe we've been here a year almost! It was June 3 last year that we hit the road. We arrived in Knoxville on June 8. Amazing.

But meanwhile, forgive me a little melancholy for my old life. It's the first time I've left a place without WANTING to escape it. When I left Florida, I was glad to get out of Florida. Leaving California was different. I left California for love and family. But I still miss my loves and my old family back there. Sigh. Bittersweetness.

The other day I was listening to the radio while I was driving, and the song "Learning to Fly," by Pink Floyd was playing. This made me think of an old friend, Mike H., with whom I used to be very close. He and I and our friend Karman used to work at Camelot Music in the Boynton Beach Mall. Good times! I was right out of high school, and I really loved working in the record store. I was there when we started replacing record albums and cassette tapes with CDs!

Anyway, Mike. He loved that song by Pink Floyd, and I was thinking about him, and how pleased I imagine he'd be that I FINALLY started watching his favorite TV show, Doctor Who. It's my latest favorite show, and thank goodness for Tivo, otherwise I might have let it pass me by. I caught an episode here and there of the first season, with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. I wasn't sure if I'd like David Tennant as the new Doctor in Season 2, but I tell you, I really love him. And as much as I liked his companion, Rose, I LOVE his new companion, Martha Jones. So if you get a chance, check out the show if you can. Uncle Tommy, I'm finally on the Doctor Who bandwagon!

I've lost touch with Mike, but I'd really love to talk to him again and find out how he's doing. I remember one birthday when Karman and I got him this great framed painting of a young man flying, reaching for a star. It summed up Mike perfectly. And, the icing on the cake for that birthday, was a vanity license plate that said, "My Other Car is the Tardis." Classic!