INTERVIEW — TAPE #70, SIDE #1
Q: Mark Russell Bell
F: Timothy Fielding, photographer
M: recorded message at toll-free number
A: Amanda Gunter, acquaintance in LaHabra
T: Pat Gunter, acquaintance in LaHabra
P: Paul Russell
B: one of Amanda and Pat’s sons
R: Russell Montez, department store staff member
I: Irene, acquaintance at department store
W: unidentified restaurant personnel
Q: We finished our photoshoot and Timothy is looking at my tapes. I have forty more cassettes (“O”) to go. I haven’t even transcribed them and my book is already 1,350 pages long. Is this not a long book?
F: Very long. Look at how many tapes you have there. I mean you must have — how many tapes there?
Q: I remember saying once when this all first began happening that anyone who writes or channels a long book has to have something wrong with them mentally. (They’re actually) channeling or something. And so this just proves the point. I mean do you realize I’ve just done my book? I’ve written my book in just a few months and it’s 1,350 pages long.
F: It’s gorgeous too.
Q: And it’s true. So, anyway — so I can’t wait to see the photos.
F: So well organized. Everything is. So well organized. (“YEAH”)
Q: Well most of the — I try to be organized. That’s the one thing that my shrink — when I was seeing a shrink, she said, (“WELL I”) “I must say you are very well organized.” And I just said, “Well yes but sometimes I can’t find anything it seems.” Because when you’re writing on a book you have to be able to find everything constantly and it drives me nuts when I can’t find something.
F: Oh I think you could in here.
Q: Like, look, these are all my sources. These are all my various things. Some of them you photographed and everything but these are all my various things that I’ve collected. So you are here. (tape recorder battery warning tone) Oh my goodness, don’t tell me I’m already out. No no no. (“THIS”) This tape recorder has tones at the beginning and end of the tape. More so at the end but not always so I never know if it’s phenomena or not. Because I looked at the instructions and directions and it didn’t really talk about tones at the beginning of the tape. I guess they’re called — what are they called? Oh it doesn’t matter. Anyway, thank you Timothy for everything. You will definitely get lots of photo credits in my book.
F: You’re entirely welcome. I enjoyed it so much. Thank you.
Q: You worked magic again today. We had so many great images (“IN”) right down the street. (“O”)
F: Incredible images. (“I DID”)
Q: I just happen to live across from two ‘monasteries’: the Angelus Temple and the Episcopalian center. And we got coverage of all these things. The beautiful murals. The beautiful birds. There were no lotuses. (“I”) I think they were underneath the water. (“YEAH” “BUT”) They’re there in terms of their karma is there.
F: Well it was a Kodak moment.
Q: And notice that Aimee Semple McPherson was the founder of the temple. There was (“THE”) the moving van that had “Sons” in it. I mean we got (“LIKE”) the ‘Bel’ street photographed. We documented the synchronicity. Isn’t this exciting?
F: Very exciting. We got some incredible shots today.
Q: And guess what? I really do think you’re the reincarnation of Merlin because I keep meeting people who are the reincarnation of famous people. Like Cleopatra. (“SO”) I really think you are. Isn’t that interesting?
F: It is interesting to me since I’ve been into magic all the time.
Q: Don’t tell Heidi.
F: I won’t. (spirit laugh)
Q: Okay. Thank you. (“BYE”)
F: Thank you.
( . . . )
Q: As Timothy was leaving, I noticed his license begins with ‘1NCA’ which looks like ‘Inca.’ And he has a Dodge van that has the little star fixture at the front so we’re definitely talking Merlin here. In terms or reincarnation and/or energy. And I’m definitely beginning to strongly have an inclination toward the former.
( . . . )
M: Greetings. We want to make known that in recent times the Virgin Mary has been appearing at the sacred grounds of Flushing Meadow Park, New York with an urgent message for the world. To receive this message along with your free brochure, simply leave your name and your address at the tone and it will be sent to you in the mail at no cost. At the tone, please speak clearly and spell out your mailing address if necessary. And may God bless. (battery warning tone)
Q: Please send the information to Son of Man at 1701 Clinton Street . . . (gives address). Thank you.
( . . . )
Q: So I’m on my way to have lunch with my father. My brother didn’t want to go. He said that he would go next time. He was just too tired from the busy week but, of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. I’m sure I wouldn’t be doing this too if not for the extraordinary events — (“THAT”) overtook my life beginning last summer.
( . . . )
Q: So I just got off the freeway and gave a homeless man a dollar and told him to try calling the Interfaith 800 number. And I’m at the intersection of Washington and Telegraph Road and there’s a Michael’s restaurant right here at the corner . . . I’m glad my father pushed it back to noon because I would’ve been late otherwise.
( . . . )
Q: I’m arriving just at twelve and there’s a Mattson’s Antiques across from a mall so now I’m very confused as to which one I should go to. (“MAYBE”) I’ll go to both? I don’t know. Who knows? I don’t know.
( . . . )
Q: Hi. So now who are you?
A: I’m Amanda and this is my husband Pat and these are my two sons. We’re —
P: Hey —
A: We — my uncle is a — he’s a new resident.
T: His new roommate.
P: — I didn’t know you were that tall.
Q: Oh really?
P: Yeah, you’re going to have to send — take this stuff back to J.C. Penny’s . . .
Q: So your Mazda 626 looks a few years older — newer than mine.
T: Yeah.
P: Mark?
T: What year is yours?
P: Take that — one of them, Mark.
Q: I’m not sure. ‘86 I think.
T: Oh yours is newer — no, mine’s ‘84.
Q: Oh, okay.
P: Hey, (“NO”) take one of those, Mark — Michael.
T: I got them.
Q: Oh okay.
P: Take one of those, Mark.
T: I got them . . .
Q: Okay.
P: Here. Here. (“MARK”)
Q: Yeah? Oh okay.
P: I’m glad you found it. Did you have trouble with Whitwood?
Q: I got lost. I went — I was going the wrong way on Washington I think.
P: I should — I forgot to tell you Pader. And Esther was . . .
Q: See, I got to — I’ll open this. Wait.
P: . . . tell you to take 5 and then 605 north.
T: This your son? No?
P: He just got off —
T: This here your dad?
Q: Yes. (“OF COURSE”)
P: He knows.
T: (small laugh)
P: He thinks I am.
Q: Oh really? Well your name was on the birth certificate.
T: (laughs)
A: (laughs)
P: Okay. I need the two.
A: They put them in there.
T: In here.
B: They’re in there.
P: Okay. Well give Mark the little plastic one.
T: They’re in there. They’re right here.
P: Lock it.
Q: Okay.
P: I want the plastic ones.
T: You want the plastic ones?
P: Yeah. Give that —
Q: Okay.
A: He has that.
T: Watch your hand.
Q: The Old Spice? Okay.
T: It’s got a tear here and everything.
P: Here, Mark.
Q: Okay.
P: That’s the thing. I’ve got to pay the taxi. VA lets me take taxi cabs.
Q: Oh really? That’s good. (“OF MAN”)
P: Yeah. But, no, you — I don’t get it back, anyway. Because if you don’t have the income —
A: We just met him.
Q: Oh, you just met him. Oh.
A: We just met him like three days ago. He’s —
T: My uncle just went in his room with him.
Q: Oh I see.
P: Yeah.
Q: Okay.
T: So he’s — take care of his uncle. He asked me for a . . .
P: And it’s a good thing they did because last night I found one more job I’ve got to do on my report. And it’s going to take me another hour. And then I mail it on Sunday. And then they get it by the fifteenth. And it don’t even have to be there until the —
A: (small laugh)
T: Thank you. I appreciate it . . .
A: So what — no no no.
T: Oh you don’t have to do that.
Q: How are you going to get home?
P: I got — I don’t have any quarters.
A: How are you getting home?
P: I don’t know.
Q: I can drop you off. That’s fine.
P: I’m going to call Whittier.
A: He says he needs to go to the (“I”) bank —
T: He has to go to the bank — is right there.
A: — and the bank’s just right down . . .
P: Got to go there first, Mark.
Q: Okay, fine. Okay.
P: And then we’ll come back with this.
Q: Okay, fine. Fine. So thank you very much.
A: No more. No more. That’s it . . .
T: . . . no more. That’s enough . . .
P: Wait a minute. I got something.
Q: What did you say your last name was?
A: Gunter.
Q: Gunter. And what name is that — are you from America — is that like German descent?
T: Yeah, I’m German.
A: . . . It’s his last name. He’s the one.
T: Yeah. I am.
Q: Yeah.
T: I’m German . . .
P: There you go.
A: Mine’s a little bit more difficult. Mine’s . . .
P: Here’s another quarter.
T: Where you from?
Q: I’m from L.A. Culver City.
P: (to boy) You’re the little one, huh?
Q: What do you do, like, for a business — living?
P: Then you get paid more —
T: I’m unemployed right now.
P: — because it’s harder for you.
Q: You are?
T: Yeah, I’m unemployed right now. (“MY JOB”) My uncle was living in his van for three years so I helped him get off the street into a convalescent — or into a retirement home.
P: Three years.
T: Been living in his van.
P: And he walks in there.
T: And he wanted —
P: He’s sleeping and no clothes on.
T: No.
P: And he says turn on the cold air.
T: Yeah.
P: And he opens the doors. He’s used to that cold air.
T: He wouldn’t get out of his van for nothing. All my family members tried to help him get out of his van until his van blew up. He had no choice.
Q: Shhhh.
A: So we took him and —
T: So I took him.
A: So now we’re here. We’re going to buy him some new pants and new —
T: Yeah, we’re going to go buy him some new clothes right now.
A: — new jeans and —
Q: Oh that’s nice.
P: Oh lovely. Big sale. Lovely.
A: He wanted a ride down here so we obliged him by —
T: He asked me yesterday when I was there, “Can you give me a ride?” “Sure. No problem.”
P: Hey, I got to get to the bank before one.
Q: Okay, let’s go. Okay, thank you.
P: Thanks a million.
T: No problem. I’ll see you back at the home . . .
A: You’re welcome. Good-bye.
T: Thank you. It’s nice meeting — your name is? (“YOUR PART”)
Q: Mark.
T: Your name is Mark?
Q: Um-huh.
T: Nice meeting you, Mark.
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: So my father’s new friend looks just like Jeff Bridges. This bank is right next to Hudson’s Grill.
( . . . )
Q: What were you saying about Uncle Bob and taking a check or something?
P: He said — he says, “Okay, so I can’t go shopping today.” I made two trips from Sacramento and I come out there — and I come out and the bus takes me three hours in the bus to get here. “I can’t go. I can’t go. I’ll take you shopping.” He says — “Get that set,” he says. And I said, “This is for Mark.” And he says, “Well that’s a good one. I wish I had one of them.” It’s a bunch of junk.
Q: What was it?
P: A bunch of junk. Did he send it to you ever?
Q: You mean that stereo AM — I got — I did get a radio.
P: You got it. Did you get the $200 in two U.S. bonds?
Q: Yes, I did.
P: Okay, well Mike didn’t get the check because he told me he didn’t want it. The check went to Bob’s bank for $1,700, $1,800. That’s for my furniture, which — I had a HUD later. But he wouldn’t even give me — he said, “I’ll take the sofa down to the office . . .”
Q: Are you saying that —
P: He didn’t buy the furniture. He was supposed to buy new furniture for Jean and then give it to me later.
Q: So he kept your money?
P: Yeah. But that’s because he wouldn’t go shopping with me.
Q: Who knows?
P: But it doesn’t matter. He’d just work it out — (“BUT BOOKS”) but to come over to me and tell me later, “Oh boy, you don’t owe your mother —”
( . . . )
Q: Oh look, Dad. His name is the same as ours. Russell. His name is Russell.
P: That’s his first name.
Q: Right. What’s your last name?
R: Montez.
Q: Montez. Where are you from?
R: Oh my parents are here. I’m Mexican-American.
P: Maria? You remember Maria Montez? An actress.
R: No, I don’t.
P: In 1930/40. 1940/30. Maria Montez. No —
Q: Do you remember Mamie Van Doren?
P: Yeah.
Q: Wasn’t she — (“Q”)
P: A blonde.
Q: She was a client at the agency.
P: Wonderful.
Q: Yeah, I’m going to call her.
P: Listen. You mean the lady in —
Q: Ruth Webb Agency.
P: Huh?
Q: Yeah. When I was at Ruth Webb. (“IAN”)
P: Webb. (“YEAH”)
Q: One of our clients was Mamie Van Doren.
P: Well sure she had a lot of them. I called her and she says, “Mark who? I don’t know any Mark Russell.” It took me three months to get her on the phone, though. And I wasn’t going to ask one of them other guys.
Q: Right?
P: So I got her on the phone and I says, “My name is Saul Russell.” But I didn’t do it right.
Q: Okay, this is when —
P: She got rid of me. (“SHE’S”) “I don’t know any Mark —” . . .
Q: Who? Ruth did?
P: I got Ruth on the phone. I asked for Jack Webb. I wanted Jack Webb. (small laugh)
Q: Her son is named Jack.
P: Who — is that her son?
Q: Not the famous one but —
P: I thought it was — the actor?
Q: No, her son — no no no no no —
P: The actor’s her husband . . .
Q: He’s not this one. (“RIGHT” “OH SHIT” “MAY”) (battery warning tone) (“DIFFERENT”) Yeah, but she had a —
( . . . )
P: . . . and we got proof.
I: Irene. (“ILEE” “BUT”)
Q: Are you interested in angels?
I: Oh I love angels. (“I”)
Q: And pyramids?
I: I’m collecting them . . . (“WHY MI”)
Q: Why is Michael your favorite?
I: Because he’s the one that conquered. Didn’t he? Well just because.
P: Arc — archangels?
I: Michael.
P: They call them archangels?
Q: I’m writing a book about Mighael the Archangel.
I: Oh you doll. You’re going home with me. (laughs)
P: (small laugh)
I: You’re going home with me.
Q: Actually I’m going home with Mighael.
I: Are you really?
Q: Yes.
I: For real? Seriously.
Q: I am.
I: No kidding?
Q: Um-huh.
I: Oh my (“SILVER DOLLAR”) God. Oh I got to touch you. Can I kiss your heart?
Q: You can.
I: Oh G(od) —
Q: Just don’t chew on it.
I: No, I just want to kiss it, give a blessing. (“LL K”)
Q: Okay.
I: Oh —
Q: See?
I: Are you kidding?
Q: What are you doing? (“US” “O”)
P: . . . How much is it?
( . . . )
Q: Well I’m with my father. My car just stalled. It never stalls. So we’re right at Stewart Anderson’s Black Angus Restaurant so we’re going to eat there.
P: Where?
Q: Right here. Stewart Anderson’s Black Angus.
P: Oh. I thought that was Mimi’s.
Q: Is that alright?
P: (small laugh)
Q: Okay. (“NO HO”)
( . . . )
(“YOU KNOW”)
Q: This is the Whitwood Shopping Center. That’s sort of like Hollywood but in Whittier.
P: Whitwood. I’ve been here six years. I came out here when Uncle Bob was working right down here.
Q: Okay, let’s go.
P: And —
Q: And there’s a Super Crown. Too bad you can’t read.
P: He was going to give me $700 and he only gave me $600.
Q: Who did?
P: A month. Bob. The Sunday Mail, you remember?
Q: What is all this intrigue between you and Uncle Bob?
P: And Ellen says, “Sunday Mail? Then he’s a crook.” She says, “He’s a crook.” And he writes me. He says, “She told me I was a crook.”
Q: Well was he?
P: On the phone. (small laugh)
Q: What about — wasn’t he in the porno magazine business at one point?
P: Who? (“AA”)
Q: Uncle Bob?
P: Could’ve been.
Q: Well yes or no? (“NO”)
P: I doubt it. But he could’ve had a little sideline. He was a hunt and peck — he was just a plain old advertising — you know, neighborhood shoppers.
Q: And what about —
P: Junk mail.
Q: What about Grandpa? Did he or did he not embezzle the money from the Methodist Church?
P: Probably did. I don’t know. That’s a Park Avenue —
Q: Right.
P: That’s a Park — Park Place.
Q: Right.
P: Park Place. Nothing is certain.
Q: Right. (“YEAH”)
P: I never even thought of that. He was Superintendent (“LEAD ON”) in Homestead — ran away when I was six. He ran away from Homestead when I was six. Mary was five. Allen was four.
Q: Oh look. The manager is named John Paulino.
P: You’ve got good eyes. Oooh.
( . . . )
Q: Their employee of the month is Christina Bullington.
P: . . . my teeth are gone.
Q: C — H — R — I — S — T.
P: Who?
Q: Their employee —
( . . . )
(“ALRIGHT” “SO”)
Q: But make sure —
P: . . . I already told you in one of the letters. But I hadn’t sent you the letters.
Q: What happened?
P: . . . They used to go golfing.
Q: Right. My grandpa and —
P: But Uncle Bill drank too much.
Q: Uncle Bill — that he drank too much.
P: And I heard later he died. Lois — his wife was Lois. And I thought that Granddad married Doris but he didn’t. He married Helen.
Q: Right. Why did you think he —
P: And we were in Homestead. I was nine. When we came to Miami, I was nine, Mary was eight, Bob was seven — and Allen was seven. Bob was six. And the twins were five. We came to Miami. You know where Miami is?
Q: I sure do.
P: Don’t go. Don’t go.
Q: I’ve never been there.
P: I thought you were going to go and visit Ellen.
Q: No. (“SO NOW”) What — what’s the most interesting (“THEY KNOW” “I”) families anecdote that you can think of involving Grandpa?
P: I’ll write them down. I can’t think. My eye — I can’t see what I’m thinking. (“MY EYE”) Q: No, I know that. I know. Have you ever —
P: You said you were going to eat.
Q: What do you want?
( . . . )
(“MY EYE”)
Q: So another question would be after all these years well how do you feel towards Ellen now?
P: Ellen?
Q: Yeah. (“THOSE EYES”) Do you still love — do you still feel love for her?
P: Well yeah. You see I was in the war and I didn’t — I was a pretty good dancer but I didn’t do — I didn’t go for women — I didn’t — (“I — I”) liked them but I never — if I went out I was too tired to dance. What’d I do with the — I put all that there. Now yours — your check —
Q: You want yours now?
P: Yeah. See, I got three in there —
( . . . )
(“I THOUGHT”)
Q: I thought Thaddeus was very nice when I spoke to him.
P: You did speak to him?
Q: He’s a very —
P: Well yeah but I told you to write him.
Q: He seemed like a very nice man. (“WRONG”)
P: I told you to find him.
Q: Well it doesn’t make a difference.
P: Yeah, I know it does.
Q: Wait, now he told me he was going to send me a photo of him.
P: Yeah, I know it does . . . (“BUT HE DIDN’T”)
Q: But he didn’t send one. (“CALL HIM”)
P: Call him again. Here.
Q: Have you ever spoken to him?
P: No — yeah. He came by and saw us. I told you.
Q: How old were you?
P: He was on the way back from Vietnam. No — Korea. He was on the way back from Korea and stopped in. And he called Helen, our mother. And we were on a little — (“I”) forget it. And then I married Ellen and we moved over behind city college — in L.A., city college. And this is down towards Third Street — Sixth Street. Anyway, (“HE”) he comes over and they told me, “Thad-deus is coming here.” (“BUT”) So I was there. And he told us that he had checked back to Scotland. At that time.
Q: Wow.
P: That was 19 — what did I tell you in the letter? 1955?
Q: I don’t remember — yeah.
P: But, anyway, he came back from Korea. And he had already traced them. Before the war — before the Korean —
Q: Well he says he didn’t, though. (“HE”) He referred me to someone else.
P: He told me he had traced back to Scotland — he told us. The whole family — Esther, Dorothy and me and Mom. (“NO”) And Mary Edna.
Q: He put me in touch with another Russell genealogist who sent me all his information.
P: Well that’s — (“YEAH”)
Q: All this.
P: But you didn’t ask him, “Did you personally ever — ”
Q: Yes, I did ask him that.
P: Well he told us that he —
Q: He said, “No.”
P: — well he told us (“NO”) that he knew we had been traced back (“BRIDGE”) to Scotland. (“CATSUP”)
Q: Well, see, that’s different. (“NO”) That means he didn’t personally do it.
P: But I thought he did it.
Q: Well (“HE TOL”) he referred me to the person who did —
P: He did do it.
Q: — and she sent me the file on a computer disk.
P: Were they a Mormon? Mormons do that for anybody.
Q: Right. Well I have —
P: Probably a Mormon. In New York.
Q: — my family historian is a Mormon here in L.A.
P: He is?
Q: She is — well they are. It’s a husband and wife.
P: I told you that in one of my letters that I didn’t mail. I said, “Check with the Mormons.” And I said —
Q: They have information on the Boyer family.
P: — have them check Anna Maria Boyer back.
Q: They — right — they are. They did.
P: They can’t do it.
Q: Yes, they — why not?
P: You check one, then you’ve got to check another name. Then they change their names all the time.
Q: They’re doing the best they can.
P: They are? How much? (“COWARD”)
Q: I’ll show you the family tree.
P: How much? (“HE CAN’T HEAR”)
Q: (What do) you mean how much?
P: How much they charge?
Q: I don’t know. Not very much. (“BUT HE”) They’re very — (“NO”)
P: To check a maiden name? Are you kidding? You have to write (“PER DOLLAR”) for two names every letter and you have to write a new letter every time you get a letter back.
Q: But sometimes information is already in the computer file.
P: And then you can’t find it because you don’t know what the capital —
Q: Some of this information is already in the file.
P: It’s in a file but somebody’s got to find it and write you back.
W: Some lemonade, sir? Lemonade?
Q: Oh yes please.
P: Somebody’s got to find it and write you back. (“WELL” “THEY’RE — THEY’RE”)
Q: Anyway, everything’s going fine. I’ll let you see the family tree when it’s all finished. I might include — (“BOYER”)
P: Boyer?
Q: She’s in it. Gangie Boyer.
P: She’s in it but I’m talking about checking her back to Kansas City and —
Q: We’re trying.
P: And her mother and her mother’s sister were captured by the Indians. But that’s another story.
Q: What was her name?
P: You don’t trace that.
Q: No. (“WELL”) What we can trace, we will trace.
P: . . . one of my great grandmothers was captured by the Indians when she was a little girl.
Q: And what happened to her?
P: I don’t know. I didn’t read the rest of the story.
Q: Did she die or did they make her an Indian?
P: I don’t know. I just heard that.
Q: Wow.
P: Gangie told us. (“THIS HURTS”) Seventy years ago. I’m only sixty-nine.
Q: Where can I go to get more information about the family? Who is the expert of family history stories?
P: Don’t ask me. I’m the one that went out and made money selling nickel magazines. I was never home. (“I[N]”)
Q: And then a war?
P: The best one would’ve been my Al(len) — no, Allen played a violin . . .(“I’LL SEE”) The best one? (“MY”) My grades were always As As As.
Q: Okay.
P: But that don’t mean . . .
Q: Well there’s no —
P: We didn’t do nothing (“LIKE”) — the twins were. They went to New York and became Roxyettes. I told you that in the letters in the ‘80s.
Q: Right. Yeah. I have pictures of them.
P: And you got some of them old letters?
Q: Yeah. (“YEAH”)
P: Burn them all.
Q: Why?
P: I think . . .
Q: They have interesting tidbits in there.
P: I want to compare the one because I — the next one I write — oh this first — I can’t find that letter. (“NOW WHAT” “WHERE’S HE”)
( . . . )
P: Here you go. Found it.
Q: Why did she move you?
P: I had to find a place. I couldn’t wait for HUDS. I had to find a place. (“BANK”) I was living in Alhambra and they were calling from the VA. I said, “Call Alhambra.” They called two or three places in Alhambra and one lady said, “We don’t have anyplace but you can check (“AND SAY”) with Leisure Manor. It’s on Whittier Boulevard. So I come out here and it’s in LaHabra . . . and they said, “Well you come back. We’ll put you on SSI. You can come back here. (“ADD”) Come back next week.” And I said, “I’m sorry. I’m going across the street to the motel. The VA sent me here.” And they said, “Okay, we’ll put you in a room.” (“SO”) And they put me in a guest room.
Q: And who helped you? Who was the one who helped you?
P: Dorothy.
Q: If not for her, what would have happened?
P: I couldn’t have made it.
Q: Well what would have happened to you?
P: Well I’d had asthma and who’s going to ask Bob. He got all my money now and he’s not going to help us. I ain’t going to ask him. I should’ve given that furniture money to — see, you have to get rid of the money when you get retro. You can’t keep it. If you keep it, they’ll take it out of your SSI. So that’s why I had to get the furniture. I come all the way from Sacramento to Bob — and said, “I can’t take you shopping. I can’t do it.” So I said, “Well would a — I’ll get you the money. I’ll give you the money and then you can buy your furniture.” And he said, “Nah, you give me the money. When you come back, I’ll give — (“L”) when you — (“YOU SEE”) I’ll give it back to you — give the money back to you.”
Q: So how would you sum up —
P: So he never did. (“GIVE ME A CENT”)
Q: — being a retired person in (“NO”) SSI and VA and — isn’t this very confusing for you or how do you —
P: It was. But not confusing.
Q: How do you figure out what to do?
P: Anybody can do that. Oh you don’t know. I didn’t know that the VA would give me money first. But they did. And I didn’t know the SSI would take a lawyer and plead things to get it. But it did. And I didn’t even need it. All I needed was the VA. But I didn’t know the VA could increase your money if you needed it. So they’ve now increased the money — well they increased it when I was in the hospital. (“HO”) I said, “Well take it back.” I forgot — I didn’t want — I’ll go back on SSI. So now (“THEY”) they saw my money was getting low here so they send me more money here now. So I dropped the SSI. You don’t know all that stuff.
Q: But you’re fine?
P: Nobody knows it. All they know is they’ve got a husband or they’ve got a father that needs (“I”) SSI. That’s all they know. Or VA. Now one guy’s a Merchant Marine. He was on the union (“TAKE HIM OFF”) as steward. (“DOWN”) They moved him in my room because his money ran out. And I told them — well (“I”) I talked to his niece. (“UH-OH”)
Q: (to waiter) Thank you.
P: What is that? Lemonade?
Q: Yeah. (“DON’T” “MOLES[T]”) But do you feel like God is always looking out after you, though, in terms (“EIYAH”) of SSI or VA?
P: Oh yeah but creative writing — it’s not the amount of the money — writing that you like to do. But the trouble is that you don’t know exactly what you like to do until you try something else.
Q: So what are you saying? What are you telling me?
P: What I’m saying is (small laugh) they’d like to see you writing some documentary . . .
Q: It is. I’m writing a biography. A pseudo-biography. (“IT IS”)
P: A biography? Of who?
Q: Myself. (“OKAY” “LOVE YOU”) That’s why if you have any good stories about anything, (“THAT’S BETTER”) I’d like to include them.
P: Are you going to put anything in there about tennis or golf?
Q: Well — if it comes up in conversation, I will. It’s all Q and A — question and answer.
P: Conversation? I don’t go to cocktail parties. I’m no good at conversation. I don’t go to cocktail —
Q: Well it gets into everything — goes in, like — I don’t know. Like —
P: Hey, listen — door-to-door salesmen? That conversation?
Q: Well like, for example, like, if I maybe was sexually abused by Uncle Bob. That came up once. (“YEAH”) My questioning if maybe (“HE LOOKS LIKE”) Bob sexually abused me.
P: Now that wouldn’t — (“YEAH”) I don’t know how you got that but that is entirely — he was never around.
Q: Okay.
P: But he sure tried to abuse me.
Q: (laughs)
P: “Don’t you know your brother?” (“TOOK YOU ON A”)
Q: Why did he do that?
P: Because I couldn’t see him and he wanted to run me down.
W: Are you done?
Q: Okay, thank you.
( . . . )
Q: I’m just going to eat — (end of tape side)
F: Very long. Look at how many tapes you have there. I mean you must have — how many tapes there?
Q: I remember saying once when this all first began happening that anyone who writes or channels a long book has to have something wrong with them mentally. (They’re actually) channeling or something. And so this just proves the point. I mean do you realize I’ve just done my book? I’ve written my book in just a few months and it’s 1,350 pages long.
F: It’s gorgeous too.
Q: And it’s true. So, anyway — so I can’t wait to see the photos.
F: So well organized. Everything is. So well organized. (“YEAH”)
Q: Well most of the — I try to be organized. That’s the one thing that my shrink — when I was seeing a shrink, she said, (“WELL I”) “I must say you are very well organized.” And I just said, “Well yes but sometimes I can’t find anything it seems.” Because when you’re writing on a book you have to be able to find everything constantly and it drives me nuts when I can’t find something.
F: Oh I think you could in here.
Q: Like, look, these are all my sources. These are all my various things. Some of them you photographed and everything but these are all my various things that I’ve collected. So you are here. (tape recorder battery warning tone) Oh my goodness, don’t tell me I’m already out. No no no. (“THIS”) This tape recorder has tones at the beginning and end of the tape. More so at the end but not always so I never know if it’s phenomena or not. Because I looked at the instructions and directions and it didn’t really talk about tones at the beginning of the tape. I guess they’re called — what are they called? Oh it doesn’t matter. Anyway, thank you Timothy for everything. You will definitely get lots of photo credits in my book.
F: You’re entirely welcome. I enjoyed it so much. Thank you.
Q: You worked magic again today. We had so many great images (“IN”) right down the street. (“O”)
F: Incredible images. (“I DID”)
Q: I just happen to live across from two ‘monasteries’: the Angelus Temple and the Episcopalian center. And we got coverage of all these things. The beautiful murals. The beautiful birds. There were no lotuses. (“I”) I think they were underneath the water. (“YEAH” “BUT”) They’re there in terms of their karma is there.
F: Well it was a Kodak moment.
Q: And notice that Aimee Semple McPherson was the founder of the temple. There was (“THE”) the moving van that had “Sons” in it. I mean we got (“LIKE”) the ‘Bel’ street photographed. We documented the synchronicity. Isn’t this exciting?
F: Very exciting. We got some incredible shots today.
Q: And guess what? I really do think you’re the reincarnation of Merlin because I keep meeting people who are the reincarnation of famous people. Like Cleopatra. (“SO”) I really think you are. Isn’t that interesting?
F: It is interesting to me since I’ve been into magic all the time.
Q: Don’t tell Heidi.
F: I won’t. (spirit laugh)
Q: Okay. Thank you. (“BYE”)
F: Thank you.
( . . . )
Q: As Timothy was leaving, I noticed his license begins with ‘1NCA’ which looks like ‘Inca.’ And he has a Dodge van that has the little star fixture at the front so we’re definitely talking Merlin here. In terms or reincarnation and/or energy. And I’m definitely beginning to strongly have an inclination toward the former.
( . . . )
M: Greetings. We want to make known that in recent times the Virgin Mary has been appearing at the sacred grounds of Flushing Meadow Park, New York with an urgent message for the world. To receive this message along with your free brochure, simply leave your name and your address at the tone and it will be sent to you in the mail at no cost. At the tone, please speak clearly and spell out your mailing address if necessary. And may God bless. (battery warning tone)
Q: Please send the information to Son of Man at 1701 Clinton Street . . . (gives address). Thank you.
( . . . )
Q: So I’m on my way to have lunch with my father. My brother didn’t want to go. He said that he would go next time. He was just too tired from the busy week but, of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. I’m sure I wouldn’t be doing this too if not for the extraordinary events — (“THAT”) overtook my life beginning last summer.
( . . . )
Q: So I just got off the freeway and gave a homeless man a dollar and told him to try calling the Interfaith 800 number. And I’m at the intersection of Washington and Telegraph Road and there’s a Michael’s restaurant right here at the corner . . . I’m glad my father pushed it back to noon because I would’ve been late otherwise.
( . . . )
Q: I’m arriving just at twelve and there’s a Mattson’s Antiques across from a mall so now I’m very confused as to which one I should go to. (“MAYBE”) I’ll go to both? I don’t know. Who knows? I don’t know.
( . . . )
Q: Hi. So now who are you?
A: I’m Amanda and this is my husband Pat and these are my two sons. We’re —
P: Hey —
A: We — my uncle is a — he’s a new resident.
T: His new roommate.
P: — I didn’t know you were that tall.
Q: Oh really?
P: Yeah, you’re going to have to send — take this stuff back to J.C. Penny’s . . .
Q: So your Mazda 626 looks a few years older — newer than mine.
T: Yeah.
P: Mark?
T: What year is yours?
P: Take that — one of them, Mark.
Q: I’m not sure. ‘86 I think.
T: Oh yours is newer — no, mine’s ‘84.
Q: Oh, okay.
P: Hey, (“NO”) take one of those, Mark — Michael.
T: I got them.
Q: Oh okay.
P: Take one of those, Mark.
T: I got them . . .
Q: Okay.
P: Here. Here. (“MARK”)
Q: Yeah? Oh okay.
P: I’m glad you found it. Did you have trouble with Whitwood?
Q: I got lost. I went — I was going the wrong way on Washington I think.
P: I should — I forgot to tell you Pader. And Esther was . . .
Q: See, I got to — I’ll open this. Wait.
P: . . . tell you to take 5 and then 605 north.
T: This your son? No?
P: He just got off —
T: This here your dad?
Q: Yes. (“OF COURSE”)
P: He knows.
T: (small laugh)
P: He thinks I am.
Q: Oh really? Well your name was on the birth certificate.
T: (laughs)
A: (laughs)
P: Okay. I need the two.
A: They put them in there.
T: In here.
B: They’re in there.
P: Okay. Well give Mark the little plastic one.
T: They’re in there. They’re right here.
P: Lock it.
Q: Okay.
P: I want the plastic ones.
T: You want the plastic ones?
P: Yeah. Give that —
Q: Okay.
A: He has that.
T: Watch your hand.
Q: The Old Spice? Okay.
T: It’s got a tear here and everything.
P: Here, Mark.
Q: Okay.
P: That’s the thing. I’ve got to pay the taxi. VA lets me take taxi cabs.
Q: Oh really? That’s good. (“OF MAN”)
P: Yeah. But, no, you — I don’t get it back, anyway. Because if you don’t have the income —
A: We just met him.
Q: Oh, you just met him. Oh.
A: We just met him like three days ago. He’s —
T: My uncle just went in his room with him.
Q: Oh I see.
P: Yeah.
Q: Okay.
T: So he’s — take care of his uncle. He asked me for a . . .
P: And it’s a good thing they did because last night I found one more job I’ve got to do on my report. And it’s going to take me another hour. And then I mail it on Sunday. And then they get it by the fifteenth. And it don’t even have to be there until the —
A: (small laugh)
T: Thank you. I appreciate it . . .
A: So what — no no no.
T: Oh you don’t have to do that.
Q: How are you going to get home?
P: I got — I don’t have any quarters.
A: How are you getting home?
P: I don’t know.
Q: I can drop you off. That’s fine.
P: I’m going to call Whittier.
A: He says he needs to go to the (“I”) bank —
T: He has to go to the bank — is right there.
A: — and the bank’s just right down . . .
P: Got to go there first, Mark.
Q: Okay, fine. Okay.
P: And then we’ll come back with this.
Q: Okay, fine. Fine. So thank you very much.
A: No more. No more. That’s it . . .
T: . . . no more. That’s enough . . .
P: Wait a minute. I got something.
Q: What did you say your last name was?
A: Gunter.
Q: Gunter. And what name is that — are you from America — is that like German descent?
T: Yeah, I’m German.
A: . . . It’s his last name. He’s the one.
T: Yeah. I am.
Q: Yeah.
T: I’m German . . .
P: There you go.
A: Mine’s a little bit more difficult. Mine’s . . .
P: Here’s another quarter.
T: Where you from?
Q: I’m from L.A. Culver City.
P: (to boy) You’re the little one, huh?
Q: What do you do, like, for a business — living?
P: Then you get paid more —
T: I’m unemployed right now.
P: — because it’s harder for you.
Q: You are?
T: Yeah, I’m unemployed right now. (“MY JOB”) My uncle was living in his van for three years so I helped him get off the street into a convalescent — or into a retirement home.
P: Three years.
T: Been living in his van.
P: And he walks in there.
T: And he wanted —
P: He’s sleeping and no clothes on.
T: No.
P: And he says turn on the cold air.
T: Yeah.
P: And he opens the doors. He’s used to that cold air.
T: He wouldn’t get out of his van for nothing. All my family members tried to help him get out of his van until his van blew up. He had no choice.
Q: Shhhh.
A: So we took him and —
T: So I took him.
A: So now we’re here. We’re going to buy him some new pants and new —
T: Yeah, we’re going to go buy him some new clothes right now.
A: — new jeans and —
Q: Oh that’s nice.
P: Oh lovely. Big sale. Lovely.
A: He wanted a ride down here so we obliged him by —
T: He asked me yesterday when I was there, “Can you give me a ride?” “Sure. No problem.”
P: Hey, I got to get to the bank before one.
Q: Okay, let’s go. Okay, thank you.
P: Thanks a million.
T: No problem. I’ll see you back at the home . . .
A: You’re welcome. Good-bye.
T: Thank you. It’s nice meeting — your name is? (“YOUR PART”)
Q: Mark.
T: Your name is Mark?
Q: Um-huh.
T: Nice meeting you, Mark.
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: So my father’s new friend looks just like Jeff Bridges. This bank is right next to Hudson’s Grill.
( . . . )
Q: What were you saying about Uncle Bob and taking a check or something?
P: He said — he says, “Okay, so I can’t go shopping today.” I made two trips from Sacramento and I come out there — and I come out and the bus takes me three hours in the bus to get here. “I can’t go. I can’t go. I’ll take you shopping.” He says — “Get that set,” he says. And I said, “This is for Mark.” And he says, “Well that’s a good one. I wish I had one of them.” It’s a bunch of junk.
Q: What was it?
P: A bunch of junk. Did he send it to you ever?
Q: You mean that stereo AM — I got — I did get a radio.
P: You got it. Did you get the $200 in two U.S. bonds?
Q: Yes, I did.
P: Okay, well Mike didn’t get the check because he told me he didn’t want it. The check went to Bob’s bank for $1,700, $1,800. That’s for my furniture, which — I had a HUD later. But he wouldn’t even give me — he said, “I’ll take the sofa down to the office . . .”
Q: Are you saying that —
P: He didn’t buy the furniture. He was supposed to buy new furniture for Jean and then give it to me later.
Q: So he kept your money?
P: Yeah. But that’s because he wouldn’t go shopping with me.
Q: Who knows?
P: But it doesn’t matter. He’d just work it out — (“BUT BOOKS”) but to come over to me and tell me later, “Oh boy, you don’t owe your mother —”
( . . . )
Q: Oh look, Dad. His name is the same as ours. Russell. His name is Russell.
P: That’s his first name.
Q: Right. What’s your last name?
R: Montez.
Q: Montez. Where are you from?
R: Oh my parents are here. I’m Mexican-American.
P: Maria? You remember Maria Montez? An actress.
R: No, I don’t.
P: In 1930/40. 1940/30. Maria Montez. No —
Q: Do you remember Mamie Van Doren?
P: Yeah.
Q: Wasn’t she — (“Q”)
P: A blonde.
Q: She was a client at the agency.
P: Wonderful.
Q: Yeah, I’m going to call her.
P: Listen. You mean the lady in —
Q: Ruth Webb Agency.
P: Huh?
Q: Yeah. When I was at Ruth Webb. (“IAN”)
P: Webb. (“YEAH”)
Q: One of our clients was Mamie Van Doren.
P: Well sure she had a lot of them. I called her and she says, “Mark who? I don’t know any Mark Russell.” It took me three months to get her on the phone, though. And I wasn’t going to ask one of them other guys.
Q: Right?
P: So I got her on the phone and I says, “My name is Saul Russell.” But I didn’t do it right.
Q: Okay, this is when —
P: She got rid of me. (“SHE’S”) “I don’t know any Mark —” . . .
Q: Who? Ruth did?
P: I got Ruth on the phone. I asked for Jack Webb. I wanted Jack Webb. (small laugh)
Q: Her son is named Jack.
P: Who — is that her son?
Q: Not the famous one but —
P: I thought it was — the actor?
Q: No, her son — no no no no no —
P: The actor’s her husband . . .
Q: He’s not this one. (“RIGHT” “OH SHIT” “MAY”) (battery warning tone) (“DIFFERENT”) Yeah, but she had a —
( . . . )
P: . . . and we got proof.
I: Irene. (“ILEE” “BUT”)
Q: Are you interested in angels?
I: Oh I love angels. (“I”)
Q: And pyramids?
I: I’m collecting them . . . (“WHY MI”)
Q: Why is Michael your favorite?
I: Because he’s the one that conquered. Didn’t he? Well just because.
P: Arc — archangels?
I: Michael.
P: They call them archangels?
Q: I’m writing a book about Mighael the Archangel.
I: Oh you doll. You’re going home with me. (laughs)
P: (small laugh)
I: You’re going home with me.
Q: Actually I’m going home with Mighael.
I: Are you really?
Q: Yes.
I: For real? Seriously.
Q: I am.
I: No kidding?
Q: Um-huh.
I: Oh my (“SILVER DOLLAR”) God. Oh I got to touch you. Can I kiss your heart?
Q: You can.
I: Oh G(od) —
Q: Just don’t chew on it.
I: No, I just want to kiss it, give a blessing. (“LL K”)
Q: Okay.
I: Oh —
Q: See?
I: Are you kidding?
Q: What are you doing? (“US” “O”)
P: . . . How much is it?
( . . . )
Q: Well I’m with my father. My car just stalled. It never stalls. So we’re right at Stewart Anderson’s Black Angus Restaurant so we’re going to eat there.
P: Where?
Q: Right here. Stewart Anderson’s Black Angus.
P: Oh. I thought that was Mimi’s.
Q: Is that alright?
P: (small laugh)
Q: Okay. (“NO HO”)
( . . . )
(“YOU KNOW”)
Q: This is the Whitwood Shopping Center. That’s sort of like Hollywood but in Whittier.
P: Whitwood. I’ve been here six years. I came out here when Uncle Bob was working right down here.
Q: Okay, let’s go.
P: And —
Q: And there’s a Super Crown. Too bad you can’t read.
P: He was going to give me $700 and he only gave me $600.
Q: Who did?
P: A month. Bob. The Sunday Mail, you remember?
Q: What is all this intrigue between you and Uncle Bob?
P: And Ellen says, “Sunday Mail? Then he’s a crook.” She says, “He’s a crook.” And he writes me. He says, “She told me I was a crook.”
Q: Well was he?
P: On the phone. (small laugh)
Q: What about — wasn’t he in the porno magazine business at one point?
P: Who? (“AA”)
Q: Uncle Bob?
P: Could’ve been.
Q: Well yes or no? (“NO”)
P: I doubt it. But he could’ve had a little sideline. He was a hunt and peck — he was just a plain old advertising — you know, neighborhood shoppers.
Q: And what about —
P: Junk mail.
Q: What about Grandpa? Did he or did he not embezzle the money from the Methodist Church?
P: Probably did. I don’t know. That’s a Park Avenue —
Q: Right.
P: That’s a Park — Park Place.
Q: Right.
P: Park Place. Nothing is certain.
Q: Right. (“YEAH”)
P: I never even thought of that. He was Superintendent (“LEAD ON”) in Homestead — ran away when I was six. He ran away from Homestead when I was six. Mary was five. Allen was four.
Q: Oh look. The manager is named John Paulino.
P: You’ve got good eyes. Oooh.
( . . . )
Q: Their employee of the month is Christina Bullington.
P: . . . my teeth are gone.
Q: C — H — R — I — S — T.
P: Who?
Q: Their employee —
( . . . )
(“ALRIGHT” “SO”)
Q: But make sure —
P: . . . I already told you in one of the letters. But I hadn’t sent you the letters.
Q: What happened?
P: . . . They used to go golfing.
Q: Right. My grandpa and —
P: But Uncle Bill drank too much.
Q: Uncle Bill — that he drank too much.
P: And I heard later he died. Lois — his wife was Lois. And I thought that Granddad married Doris but he didn’t. He married Helen.
Q: Right. Why did you think he —
P: And we were in Homestead. I was nine. When we came to Miami, I was nine, Mary was eight, Bob was seven — and Allen was seven. Bob was six. And the twins were five. We came to Miami. You know where Miami is?
Q: I sure do.
P: Don’t go. Don’t go.
Q: I’ve never been there.
P: I thought you were going to go and visit Ellen.
Q: No. (“SO NOW”) What — what’s the most interesting (“THEY KNOW” “I”) families anecdote that you can think of involving Grandpa?
P: I’ll write them down. I can’t think. My eye — I can’t see what I’m thinking. (“MY EYE”) Q: No, I know that. I know. Have you ever —
P: You said you were going to eat.
Q: What do you want?
( . . . )
(“MY EYE”)
Q: So another question would be after all these years well how do you feel towards Ellen now?
P: Ellen?
Q: Yeah. (“THOSE EYES”) Do you still love — do you still feel love for her?
P: Well yeah. You see I was in the war and I didn’t — I was a pretty good dancer but I didn’t do — I didn’t go for women — I didn’t — (“I — I”) liked them but I never — if I went out I was too tired to dance. What’d I do with the — I put all that there. Now yours — your check —
Q: You want yours now?
P: Yeah. See, I got three in there —
( . . . )
(“I THOUGHT”)
Q: I thought Thaddeus was very nice when I spoke to him.
P: You did speak to him?
Q: He’s a very —
P: Well yeah but I told you to write him.
Q: He seemed like a very nice man. (“WRONG”)
P: I told you to find him.
Q: Well it doesn’t make a difference.
P: Yeah, I know it does.
Q: Wait, now he told me he was going to send me a photo of him.
P: Yeah, I know it does . . . (“BUT HE DIDN’T”)
Q: But he didn’t send one. (“CALL HIM”)
P: Call him again. Here.
Q: Have you ever spoken to him?
P: No — yeah. He came by and saw us. I told you.
Q: How old were you?
P: He was on the way back from Vietnam. No — Korea. He was on the way back from Korea and stopped in. And he called Helen, our mother. And we were on a little — (“I”) forget it. And then I married Ellen and we moved over behind city college — in L.A., city college. And this is down towards Third Street — Sixth Street. Anyway, (“HE”) he comes over and they told me, “Thad-deus is coming here.” (“BUT”) So I was there. And he told us that he had checked back to Scotland. At that time.
Q: Wow.
P: That was 19 — what did I tell you in the letter? 1955?
Q: I don’t remember — yeah.
P: But, anyway, he came back from Korea. And he had already traced them. Before the war — before the Korean —
Q: Well he says he didn’t, though. (“HE”) He referred me to someone else.
P: He told me he had traced back to Scotland — he told us. The whole family — Esther, Dorothy and me and Mom. (“NO”) And Mary Edna.
Q: He put me in touch with another Russell genealogist who sent me all his information.
P: Well that’s — (“YEAH”)
Q: All this.
P: But you didn’t ask him, “Did you personally ever — ”
Q: Yes, I did ask him that.
P: Well he told us that he —
Q: He said, “No.”
P: — well he told us (“NO”) that he knew we had been traced back (“BRIDGE”) to Scotland. (“CATSUP”)
Q: Well, see, that’s different. (“NO”) That means he didn’t personally do it.
P: But I thought he did it.
Q: Well (“HE TOL”) he referred me to the person who did —
P: He did do it.
Q: — and she sent me the file on a computer disk.
P: Were they a Mormon? Mormons do that for anybody.
Q: Right. Well I have —
P: Probably a Mormon. In New York.
Q: — my family historian is a Mormon here in L.A.
P: He is?
Q: She is — well they are. It’s a husband and wife.
P: I told you that in one of my letters that I didn’t mail. I said, “Check with the Mormons.” And I said —
Q: They have information on the Boyer family.
P: — have them check Anna Maria Boyer back.
Q: They — right — they are. They did.
P: They can’t do it.
Q: Yes, they — why not?
P: You check one, then you’ve got to check another name. Then they change their names all the time.
Q: They’re doing the best they can.
P: They are? How much? (“COWARD”)
Q: I’ll show you the family tree.
P: How much? (“HE CAN’T HEAR”)
Q: (What do) you mean how much?
P: How much they charge?
Q: I don’t know. Not very much. (“BUT HE”) They’re very — (“NO”)
P: To check a maiden name? Are you kidding? You have to write (“PER DOLLAR”) for two names every letter and you have to write a new letter every time you get a letter back.
Q: But sometimes information is already in the computer file.
P: And then you can’t find it because you don’t know what the capital —
Q: Some of this information is already in the file.
P: It’s in a file but somebody’s got to find it and write you back.
W: Some lemonade, sir? Lemonade?
Q: Oh yes please.
P: Somebody’s got to find it and write you back. (“WELL” “THEY’RE — THEY’RE”)
Q: Anyway, everything’s going fine. I’ll let you see the family tree when it’s all finished. I might include — (“BOYER”)
P: Boyer?
Q: She’s in it. Gangie Boyer.
P: She’s in it but I’m talking about checking her back to Kansas City and —
Q: We’re trying.
P: And her mother and her mother’s sister were captured by the Indians. But that’s another story.
Q: What was her name?
P: You don’t trace that.
Q: No. (“WELL”) What we can trace, we will trace.
P: . . . one of my great grandmothers was captured by the Indians when she was a little girl.
Q: And what happened to her?
P: I don’t know. I didn’t read the rest of the story.
Q: Did she die or did they make her an Indian?
P: I don’t know. I just heard that.
Q: Wow.
P: Gangie told us. (“THIS HURTS”) Seventy years ago. I’m only sixty-nine.
Q: Where can I go to get more information about the family? Who is the expert of family history stories?
P: Don’t ask me. I’m the one that went out and made money selling nickel magazines. I was never home. (“I[N]”)
Q: And then a war?
P: The best one would’ve been my Al(len) — no, Allen played a violin . . .(“I’LL SEE”) The best one? (“MY”) My grades were always As As As.
Q: Okay.
P: But that don’t mean . . .
Q: Well there’s no —
P: We didn’t do nothing (“LIKE”) — the twins were. They went to New York and became Roxyettes. I told you that in the letters in the ‘80s.
Q: Right. Yeah. I have pictures of them.
P: And you got some of them old letters?
Q: Yeah. (“YEAH”)
P: Burn them all.
Q: Why?
P: I think . . .
Q: They have interesting tidbits in there.
P: I want to compare the one because I — the next one I write — oh this first — I can’t find that letter. (“NOW WHAT” “WHERE’S HE”)
( . . . )
P: Here you go. Found it.
Q: Why did she move you?
P: I had to find a place. I couldn’t wait for HUDS. I had to find a place. (“BANK”) I was living in Alhambra and they were calling from the VA. I said, “Call Alhambra.” They called two or three places in Alhambra and one lady said, “We don’t have anyplace but you can check (“AND SAY”) with Leisure Manor. It’s on Whittier Boulevard. So I come out here and it’s in LaHabra . . . and they said, “Well you come back. We’ll put you on SSI. You can come back here. (“ADD”) Come back next week.” And I said, “I’m sorry. I’m going across the street to the motel. The VA sent me here.” And they said, “Okay, we’ll put you in a room.” (“SO”) And they put me in a guest room.
Q: And who helped you? Who was the one who helped you?
P: Dorothy.
Q: If not for her, what would have happened?
P: I couldn’t have made it.
Q: Well what would have happened to you?
P: Well I’d had asthma and who’s going to ask Bob. He got all my money now and he’s not going to help us. I ain’t going to ask him. I should’ve given that furniture money to — see, you have to get rid of the money when you get retro. You can’t keep it. If you keep it, they’ll take it out of your SSI. So that’s why I had to get the furniture. I come all the way from Sacramento to Bob — and said, “I can’t take you shopping. I can’t do it.” So I said, “Well would a — I’ll get you the money. I’ll give you the money and then you can buy your furniture.” And he said, “Nah, you give me the money. When you come back, I’ll give — (“L”) when you — (“YOU SEE”) I’ll give it back to you — give the money back to you.”
Q: So how would you sum up —
P: So he never did. (“GIVE ME A CENT”)
Q: — being a retired person in (“NO”) SSI and VA and — isn’t this very confusing for you or how do you —
P: It was. But not confusing.
Q: How do you figure out what to do?
P: Anybody can do that. Oh you don’t know. I didn’t know that the VA would give me money first. But they did. And I didn’t know the SSI would take a lawyer and plead things to get it. But it did. And I didn’t even need it. All I needed was the VA. But I didn’t know the VA could increase your money if you needed it. So they’ve now increased the money — well they increased it when I was in the hospital. (“HO”) I said, “Well take it back.” I forgot — I didn’t want — I’ll go back on SSI. So now (“THEY”) they saw my money was getting low here so they send me more money here now. So I dropped the SSI. You don’t know all that stuff.
Q: But you’re fine?
P: Nobody knows it. All they know is they’ve got a husband or they’ve got a father that needs (“I”) SSI. That’s all they know. Or VA. Now one guy’s a Merchant Marine. He was on the union (“TAKE HIM OFF”) as steward. (“DOWN”) They moved him in my room because his money ran out. And I told them — well (“I”) I talked to his niece. (“UH-OH”)
Q: (to waiter) Thank you.
P: What is that? Lemonade?
Q: Yeah. (“DON’T” “MOLES[T]”) But do you feel like God is always looking out after you, though, in terms (“EIYAH”) of SSI or VA?
P: Oh yeah but creative writing — it’s not the amount of the money — writing that you like to do. But the trouble is that you don’t know exactly what you like to do until you try something else.
Q: So what are you saying? What are you telling me?
P: What I’m saying is (small laugh) they’d like to see you writing some documentary . . .
Q: It is. I’m writing a biography. A pseudo-biography. (“IT IS”)
P: A biography? Of who?
Q: Myself. (“OKAY” “LOVE YOU”) That’s why if you have any good stories about anything, (“THAT’S BETTER”) I’d like to include them.
P: Are you going to put anything in there about tennis or golf?
Q: Well — if it comes up in conversation, I will. It’s all Q and A — question and answer.
P: Conversation? I don’t go to cocktail parties. I’m no good at conversation. I don’t go to cocktail —
Q: Well it gets into everything — goes in, like — I don’t know. Like —
P: Hey, listen — door-to-door salesmen? That conversation?
Q: Well like, for example, like, if I maybe was sexually abused by Uncle Bob. That came up once. (“YEAH”) My questioning if maybe (“HE LOOKS LIKE”) Bob sexually abused me.
P: Now that wouldn’t — (“YEAH”) I don’t know how you got that but that is entirely — he was never around.
Q: Okay.
P: But he sure tried to abuse me.
Q: (laughs)
P: “Don’t you know your brother?” (“TOOK YOU ON A”)
Q: Why did he do that?
P: Because I couldn’t see him and he wanted to run me down.
W: Are you done?
Q: Okay, thank you.
( . . . )
Q: I’m just going to eat — (end of tape side)
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