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I know YOU’VE experienced serendipity doo-dah. Unexpected blessings, blossoming ideas, simple solutions, over-the-top, awesome situations like perfect swells on which to surf, or a prime parking space in a crowded lot, POOF! Just like that! Outta the blue! The giddiness and childlike anticipation colors and inspires your moment, your day, your thoughts and your encounters, though you may be in a mire.
On the way home from the gym last Friday afternoon, I was listening to KMYT Smooth Jazz radio station based in Temecula. The DJ announced that the tenth caller would win tickets for Saturday’s Summer Jazz Concert at Thornton Winery: Jonathan Butler and Elan Trotman: Thornton Winery Summer Jazz.
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When I heard the opportunity to win, I had been driving northbound on the 215 freeway, exiting at Scott Road. I was stopped on the off-ramp when I called the radio station. I won four tickets and I had to retrieve them before 5:00 p.m. No problemo. Forget grocery shopping at Albertson’s.
When I got to the radio station, I signed some paperwork and Jen, the lovely receptionist, asked if I’d be interested in four more tickets, as the previous winner was a no-show. Well, you don’t have to ask me twice. I was SOOOOOO excited; I made a bunch of phone calls, first asking my friend, Patricia, if she wanted to go.
“Color me in,” she said. No other takers, though. When I got home, I went door-to-door, asking some of my neighborhood peeps. The tickets were grabbed up faster than you could say, ‘champagne’.
In the meantime, I had a Friday night date with Wreck-It Ralph. The Menifee Mobile Activities Recreational Services: Menifee MARS Program offered the community a free movie at Lyle Marsh Park.
In the animated flick, Wreck-It Ralph contends with his one-man demolition persona by comparing himself with Fix-it-Felix, Jr., who magically repairs things with a touch, much to the celebratory delight of everyone in the Niceland community.
I’d never seen movies on a huge, inflated, movie screen before. Further, it’s been about a decade since my son, Juan, has played similar Nintendo games, like Rocket Power, Super Mario Brothers and the like. In adolescence, he evolved into playing Xbox 360, internet-based war games involving other players with whom he could speak and listen to on a headset as they foiled the enemy.
It’s graphically-charged, two-dimensional animation: blood, guts and sound effects. I didn’t like the ‘game’, but I allowed my son to decide whether to both purchase and to use it. The Xbox has been sitting here, collecting dust for over a year. Baseball, more baseball, a job, working out, driving and girls have since taken precedence. Just this minute, he parked in the driveway looking so…strapping and young in his Ford F250 truck. He’s six-feet tall, now. Nintendo seems like another familial game era.
Anyway, I invited my friend, Patricia, to go along with me to the movie. She immediately affirmed the invite.
“Isn’t Fix-It Felix a children’s game character?” she asked.
“I have no idea, but the evening weather is perfect for a movie in the park,” I answered “Besides, an animated feature is about all I can watch, these days….easy, breezy, you know?” Patricia didn’t inquire any more.
“I’d love to go. You bring the popcorn and chairs. I’ll bring the Mio and the water,” Patricia said.
“It’s a deal,” I said.
A sea of families with little kids running around everywhere, a patchwork of blankets on the cool grass, lawn chairs positioned toward the screen and a craft center to keep the munchkins busy until movie time – well, the event couldn’t get any better. Kudos to the MARS volunteers who arrived early and stayed late to bundle up the equipment. I especially appreciated the added, roomy, porta-powder rooms. The popcorn wasn’t bad either -- that takes care of my quarterly culinary coup.
As for the movie, I experienced a tumultuous epiphany toward the end of the story: Disney made the movie on the basis of an arcade game(s). How capitalistically brilliant! The story-line was written for way, way little kids who are more technologically savvy than I ever was, else how would they know the characters if not from a video game? Why was I sitting there? To do just that: sit and watch a kid's movie for free in the middle of a wonderful park not far from Sugar Rush Speedway.
Serendipity stopped by on Saturday, too. Remember the concert tickets I won? I’m a big fan of smooth jazz. I’ve seen and listened to Ottmar Liebert, Dave Koz and other artists perform at Thornton Winery, going way back. The venue is perfect. The enticement of grilled barbequed chicken and thick, juicy hamburgers wafting in the air was too much for me to pass up.
We ordered burgers from Mike, the Grill Master. The secret sauce is indescribably delicious and smooth. Of course, the swirly-frosted, bananas foster cupcakes were singing from the display…La, La, La, Lynnnn….two for you and two for your friend…we taste that good. Uh huh, that's what I'm talkin' about!
Ahhhhhh. Jonathan Butler has been around for a while on guitar and vocals accompanied by Elan Trotman on saxophone and Mr. Butler’s youngest daughter, Jodie, on background vocals for the concert. The group played for a long while. Butler has some snappy gospel music in his repertoire which brought us to our feet, clapping and dancing. You can check out the artists on the web: Johnathan Butler's Website and Saxophonist Elan Trotman.
I’m sharing some footage from the park, check out the link at the beginning of the story. In the mean time, Wreck-It Ralph and Fix-It Felix, Jr., are slated to revamp Newport Road between Menifee and Antelope Roads beginning August 5. Place a sticky note on your dashboard to remind you to take an alternate route -- there are many.
