Los Angeles. Love/Hate Relationship. SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Two Cities. 2021. Part 11. Those who really have it don't talk about it.

Don't start the series here... To at least be current on topics related to Market Lofts and DTLA, please read: Love/Hate spec. series #2, Love/Hate spec. series #6, Love/Hate spec. series #7

We lived at the Market Lofts for almost 3 1/2 years virtually not knowing any of our neighbors in this over 260 unit building. We started to get to know one married couple, but he traveled extensively until the pandemic so we literally haven't seen them in probably 2 years at this point. Occasionally, Oliver or Nicole "likes" one of my photos on Instagram or Facebook and a couple of times have Oliver has had comments on topics I have brought up, like last year's celebrations that turned into riots around our home. We know another neighbor upstairs, me more than my husband, but while we keep talking about getting together, but schedules have yet to align. We moved less than 1 mile away in LA for the next year so there is still plenty of time.

We just recently met 3 of our neighbors around us on our floor. Less than a month before we are moving out, go figure! One of them, a tall, lean blond artist with a bun bought for his girlfriend who's strut alone lets you know she is a powerhouse Asian woman, our "Amish" electric fireplace. I put it in quotes as our casing was more likely manufactured in China or elsewhere in Asia than actually handcrafted in Pennsylvania. The 4 of us went out, just before June 15th when masks were no longer mandated in California. We sat outside at an Italian restaurant in DTLA, Strada Eateria & Bar, which also had live jazz on this evening. Our other neighbor, who fits the stereotype of Daddy's girl and of Aryan race, met us at the restaurant. The atmosphere was more like an Italian family wedding with everyone so excited so see one another, to be together, than just a quiet evening of bruschetta, wine and jazz. People were ready to be out and the owners of the restaurant were beyond happy to see them back. At least this place, it seems, survived COVID-19.

As a writer, I always devour opportunities to develop characters. Not knowing these 3 people above well, I am not "revealing" any easy PII (at the US Census Bureau that is personal identifiable information) other than they all live in the same building as we did until last week. Further, I am taking liberty and giving purely impressions with some embellishment for your entertainment. 

The guy is an artist, the Asian superstar is in the medical field and Daddy's girl works for one of Daddy's businesses. We further learn that the Asian superstar advanced her education early, going to college at 15 or 16, has been married before, in her field longer than we initially might think and is probably a decade or so older than she portrays on the surface. Sitting across from her, I tried not to stare behind the make up too much. I portray myself younger than I am, but no make up. I have been thinking of Spanx though... gut busting is an endless battle. Daddy's girl works in a business that deals with specialization of certain high end German vehicles. She lived in Germany part of her childhood and has Type O blood, thus, along with the skin, body frame, and blonde hair, comes the Aryan race reference. I made this comment that evening and she smiled unopposed to the reference. From the first time I met the artist when he came to our apartment it was clear he was very knowledgeable. He came to see what we were selling an immediately asked about our Herman Miller chairs. We talked a little bit about some of our art, most of which was already packed and moved to Atlanta and he knew immediately who Lichenstein was an artist when we mentioned our prized piece that once covered one wall in our loft. This evening, when Mac (my husband) mentioned he was a PMP (Project Management Professional) he asked him about dealing in certain metrics, equations or something that went right over my head but is a specific part of PMP training. He was the least revealing, followed by perhaps myself in this case, of much of anything about themselves, even when probed a little after his PMP reference. His girlfriend said something like "he is full of surprises." Nana always told me "those who really have it, don't talk about it." That can be referenced to more things and ways than one...

When superstar brought up her early entrance to college, her earlier marriage and mentioned that she has been in practice longer than we might expect (a not so subtle note that she is older than she thinks we think), Daddy's girl made some apologetic commentary about it took her longer to get through school (if she finished I don't even recall) because she was so busy babysitting and working other jobs. My husband gave some version of his military brat, 12 schools in 13 years background, going to University of Phoenix (for some reason he skips his initial time at New England College) and then leading to his later PMP (which he usually leaves off the most impressive part of getting with a 4.0 at UCI, but that does fall into the not talking about it...). I don't recall discussing my education at all. The artist just smiled a lot occasionally interjecting with comments or questions like that after Mac's mentioning his PMP that make you wonder all the more. 

You may be wondering how blood type came up. Talking about where you are from, went to school, things like that are all typical, but blood type? Well, it's vaccine time. I am well aware there are plenty of people who are not vaccinated. At the time I met with these neighbors, it was probably less than 40% of people in LA and the city was doing better than many places. But, I foolishly thought anyone in my immediate circle would already had run to have been vaccinated. Daddy's girl, Mac and I had done so and the artist had his 1st shot at this point but the Asian superstar simply said "not anytime soon" when asked and we moved on to another topic. 

I know that Daddy's girl is an owner. She is also not a savvy investor. She spoke of how the condos at Market Lofts had not really gone up much since they were built over 15 years ago as though it were a positive thing. I am almost certain Asian superstar referenced something about the homeowners association or something else then inferred ownership. The artist had previously talked to Mac about remodel plans, things renters do not do. One more thing that makes inquiring minds want to know more of the artist story...