That's what happens to you if you don't read books

 That's what happens to you if you don't read books

     There is no man other than my Dad who had a greater influence on me than John Sheehy. There are so many of my best qualities I learned from him as a mentor and he was just a fun man to be around. He told great stories, he laughed easily and I never saw him in his weaker moments that his kids may have experienced. My love for the English language and storytelling is something I took from his Irish gift of gab. Also, many of my first experiences in the adult world were experienced with his guidance. My first Ram football game, my first trip to the race track and one memorable day in downtown Los Angeles were enjoyed under his wise care. The day in DTLA was an urban road trip that included myself, Jack and Greg sometime around 1960. We took in some big city attractions that John felt were important for kids growing up in the city of the Angels. The first stop was the Laurel and Hardy steps that were extremely long and steep concrete stairs, 133 to be exact in the Silverlake neighborhood some forty years before it became hip. We had seen the short film where the duo hauls a  piano up the stairs while mopping sweat. The steps are a public staircase that connects Vendome Street (at the base of the hill) with Descanso Drive (at the top of the hill), and are located at 923-925 North Vendome Street near the intersection of Del Monte Drive. They are now known as the "Music Box Stairs." We got out of the Merc and walked to the top huffing and puffing the old LA smog air. Next was a short drive to Angel's Flight funicular railroad.  The four excited South Gate folks rode in Olivet at the original location, with trackage along the side of  the mysterious Third street Tunnel and connecting Hill Street and Olive Street. Downtown was so exotic, just being there was a thrill. For John we were in his old stomping grounds just blocks from Broadway where a right turn would take you to Cathedral High School, the hallowed ground on which the old Phantom had  completed high school. The last part of the tour was inside the car as our host drove us slowly through Skid Row which was relatively small, centered around 5th and Main. There were bums stumbling around or just slumped on the sidewalks with a snootfull. At that point John noticing our eyes bugging out of our heads gave us the sobering advice "that's what happens to you if you don't read books."