Waking Up Old in Beverly Hills
This past Sunday, I woke up at 3 am to the film “California Suite.” I had fallen asleep watching the podcast “Fly on the Wall” with Dana Carvey and David Spade. I ended up watching the entire movie. “California Suite” is a comedy based on a Neil Simon play, directed by Herbert Ross. This 1978 classic was filmed at the Beverly Hills Hotel and featured a heavy-hitter cast, such as Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, Walter Matthau, Richard Pryor, Elaine May, and Bill Cosby. I paid close attention to Michael Caine and Maggie Smith’s storyline, because they had scenes in the Polo Lounge.
Three years ago, Alaina Nunnally and I had brunch and toured this famous hotel. We were in Los Angeles for the Rock the Shorts Film Festival, for which we won Best Comedy for “Death by King Cake.” Ironically, the only celebrity we spotted during brunch was the iconic filmmaker, Rob Reiner. When I told Alaina that Rob was walking in, waiting to be seated at his regular table, she jumped up with her cell phone to take his picture, and was immediately stopped by two waiters to protect the famous filmmaker’s privacy. I’m still in shock that we lost Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, this past December.
Although I was excited that I recognized several shots of the interior and exterior of this Beverly Hills landmark, I suddenly became depressed. On January 29, I turned 61, and I’m realizing how time has drastically changed and keeps changing. Earlier, before I went to bed on Saturday, I watched an up-and-coming podcaster interview with David Spade on YouTube. I was amazed that this young man did not know several of the actors and comedians whom David admired. So even before I woke up to “California Suite,” I was already feeling lost and old. I know that I’m living in a bubble, and I don’t accept change well. My fear of Artificial Intelligence is for another blog.
There’s something profound about waking up to the past, having a vivid recognition of the movie you are watching, and remembering who you were watching it with at the time. It’s rather a lonely and sad feeling that time passes so quickly. I was able to go back to sleep and slept for about two hours.
When I woke up around 7 a.m. on Sunday, I walked my dog, Elliott, and then made a pot of coffee. When I sat down on the sofa and had my first cup of java, I reflected on waking up to the old film and my memories of Beverly Hills. Suddenly, the fear of old age, AI, and CHANGE in general disappeared. In fact, it lit a flame under my ass to be more present and accept the challenges the new normal throws my way.
Let the new projects begin!
David
