Practice What You Preach

I went for days having not organically encountered a pleasure reader and started to feel defeated. I'd be ordering green tea at a coffee shop while scoping out the patrons and nothing. I'd walk the streets of Hollywood, getting excited over someone hunched over at a bus stop bench but realising they are engrossed in their cell phone.

After reading at a nearby Starbucks I decided to go for a walk down Sunset Blvd. before walking home. I'm at a crosswalk in front of EAT (a French restaurant by the Gower/Tribune/CW studios) about to cross the street when I notice the valet reading on a bench outside the restaurant. (Me and the Los Angeles valets!) I explain what I'm doing and he is more than happy to oblige so I take a seat next to him.

Johnny is currently reading Discursos a mis estudiantes by C.H. Spurgeon, who I found out is a British Reformed Baptist Preacher. A friend of his recommended it to him so he went out and bought himself a copy.


"Discussions to my students? Lectures to my students? For my students? With my students?" I attempt to translate the Spanish title and Johnny was impressed at how close I got! Hooray for high school Spanish and college French! He later tells me he prefers to read en espanol because it's easier and "the words feel more connected". Native tongue -- understandable.

My new friend tells me the book is about how to preach the word of God. I ask if he is religious and he says he is a very devout Christian and has been for the past 10 years. He goes on to tell me that the book is about life and how to live the word of God. Not only agree and nod at the readings but actually practice what God teaches in the New Testament. He reads alot of religious books and mainly the Bible everyday.

Any favourite passages or books from the Good Book itself? "Oh, so many," he says. I egg him on with an "Ok, but if you had to pick just ONE what would it be?" Johnny pauses and says The Book of John.
"Like John the Baptist?" I had him in my head because my boss was trying to show me a John the Baptist Dali painting.

I was wrong and he proceeds to correct me on how John the Baptist was before Christ, preaching about how Jesus was coming while John of the Book of John was Christ's Apostle. Duly noted.

Out of curiousity I ask him what religion he was before. Catholic, like many people who've descended from Spanish blood (Johnny is from Ecuador). I tell him I was raised Catholic, too, as my parent's people were raped and pillaged by the Spanish back in the day, as well, but admit that I've fallen off religion. I was cringing inside, expecting a lecture but he wasn't pushy.

Ok, so why the switch? Well, he confesses that he used to be a bad man. "I used to do bad things. I sinned. I drank alot, I danced at clubs alot, I met alot of women...then one day I read the Proverbs in the Bible and it hit me. I had to change my life. I had to be a better man. " And he has rightfully done so! Straight and narrow, not a drink in years, has not gone out to clubs or bars. "I don't need all that to be happy any more." And he goes on to tell me that ever since he has been cleansing himself spiritually, loving his body, and he wants to be a preacher one day. Hence the book. He teaches a youth group at his church of people ranging from the ages of 17-28. Has been doing it for 2 years now, every Sunday. But he admits that he is not perfect yet. "It took me 8 years to heal myself before I could teach others. People need to realise that they need to work on themselves first, change themselves, practice God's way before preaching God's way. You can't tell someone to not lie if you yourself lie. You can't tell someone to not steal if you yourself steals." We sit there for a while as he tells me about his journey, about his kids and how they believe along with him. Johnny also didn't like the "hypocrisy" of Catholicism. "Some people will worship the Lady of Guadalupe, other's will look up to Our Lady of Fatima...God didn't intend for idolatry."

Then he turns the tables on me and asks what my favourite book is. Tough question, I have so many. That question always stumps me but I do tell him what I am currently reading. We talk about my reasonings for reading and why I read, and we both agree that you learn so much from books, regardless of what you read.

Time passes and it's dark so I tell him I must be on my way. I'll probably stop by again in a few weeks to see what he's reading next.

Have you ever read anything that has changed your life? Absolute 180?

Dog-Eared in the Dog Days of Summer

It's Sunday and that means one thing -- Mom Day, usually lunch, a movie, shopping, hunting for desserts around town, random adventures, etc. With a tummy full of food from Barrio Fiesta in Eagle Rock I dug through my satchel for my valet parking ticket. Rather than rush over to the valet I paused. He's hunched on a crate under his giant umbrella, straw hat, engrossed in a book, not looking affected at all by the scorching heat.
Could he be my first interview?

He looks up, smiling. I hand him my ticket and I take my keys from him since my car is right next to me...I can pull out of the spot myself. Got in the car, started the engine, turned on the A/C for my mom, and grabbed my pen, scrap of paper, and my camera. I'm going in.

"Excuse me but...may I ask what you're reading?" I had opened the floodgates. His eyes light up and he's excited to share his latest literary adventures!

His name is Fidel, "like Castro!", I add. He laughs. "You know of him, eh?"

He's reading a tiny book, almost pamphlet-like. My first thought was something religious. Far from it! Fidel is reading Coleccion Marcial LaFuente Estefania -- Hombres de revolves (Ugh, can't ready my writing...could be revolver or revolucion. Looked like pulp fiction of sorts)

"It's in Spanish...about cowboys back in the day...during the revolutions. It's really fun! I love reading books like these!" He continues to tell me that he loves reading in general...like LOVES it. I ask why.
"I love learning and learning about different times. And I love finding out about new people, fake or real. The characters in books...they are us."

I say books must help him pass the time out in the parking lot.

"Oh yes it helps pass time. But I like reading more to learn how to be patient. I reflect...books show me how to treat people better." I smile.


Fidel loves reading so much that he often reads 2 books at a time! He opens his drawer and whips out a fat paperback. "I like this one...it's about dreams, many dreams. You should read it, not sure if it's in English." He pats the book before going into another car. I look at the cover while he is away.
Cien anos de soledad


"Hey! It's 100 Years of Solitude! By Gabriel Garcia Marques! I like him!" I yell it out at him as he parks a car."

"Oh! You know him? You read the book?"
"No, but I've read Chronicles of a Death Foretold. Um, Chronicles? I ...I don't know how to say that in Spanish."
"Oh ok, what's it about?"
I didn't know how to explain magical realism so I just said, "Dreamy...and magical...fantastical...you would like it. They have it in Spanish, I'm sure."

Before I got into my car I asked why he only read books in Spanish. It's easier for him and the writing in beautiful and comfortable. "The original Spanish versions are more romantic to me...like music in my ears."
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Have you ever read multiple books at one time (aside from school)? Do you prefer reading books in languages other than English?