The contracting construction job market for my Dad in So. California tended to be hot and cold. It was hot in Orange County for awhile, which is why we moved to HB. Then got cold later in the 70’s. He had to work around the country – some long jobs in New York and Seattle over the years, and my Mom was there with him, and I remember she loved being with him during those times. This meant however, that Grandma raised us during those extended periods. I was pretty cool about it because I was a teenager and that meant I could get away with a lot of things. Grandma was not a strict as Mom, and so my grades sorta lagged during High School.

There are pictures somewhere of those work trips my Mom had with my Dad, as soon as I find them I’ll post them here. In fact I am sure there are more pics of the 70’s somewhere, I’ll have to keep looking.

In 1976 after I graduated from High School they decided to buy a motel in Desert Hot Springs, near Palm Springs. My Mom seemed to have a love for the desert back then, I guess because of all those cold eastern days she grew up with. So they sold the HB house, and I had to follow.

This was a 15 room motel, large swimming pool and indoor spa (with naturally hot mineral well water). It also had an attached Manager’s unit and office where my Mom, Dad, Sister and Grandma lived. I lived in a little half room in the back. In fact I think the number on the door was 12 1/2.

Desert Hot Springs was famous for its hot mineral waters which was reputed to have therapeutic value. My Grandma and Mom would work the rooms every day. I would have to help, mostly with the pool and spa cleaning chores. I remember meeting a lot of characters back then, many people from the east coast and the Mediterranean areas of Europe loved the place, many Orthodox Jews. My Mom was a tough business person, you paid for the room up front, she made me work the odd jobs – if there were people to pick up at Palm Springs airport, that was my job. I remember picking up a beautiful swedish girl once, er, well that’s not part of this story ;-).

The job market for my Dad was real hot in the Palm Springs area (like 120 degrees hot), so he helped at the Motel when he could. Then my Dad, after prodding from my Mom, got me into the union, and before I knew it I was working along side him as a “grunt”, AKA groundman.

So, in 1978 I was making pretty solid money there for a 19 year old. My Mom was happy about that. She probably gave up her dreams of me going to college, just as she did herself way back when. She strongly believed at the very least a man should have a trade, and thought she had me on the right direction. For awhile the money was cool, but I rebelled after digging one too many ditches in sand dunes in 110 degree weather. I decided to move back to HB on my own, and focus on my education (and my rock star career …;)

My Mom and Dad, shortly afterwards decided around the end of 1979 that it was time to sell the Motel (again I wish we had more pics of those times – I’ll keep looking).

It wasn’t too long before they bought a house on a golf country club in Wickenburg Arizona, my Dad’s hometown. My Grandma Ella (my Dad’s mom) and many relatives lived nearby. Yes, of course no pics yet, but here’s one of the many views I remember.

It was about a 6 or 7 hour commute from HB, and I did it often for visits. My Dad would commute to Palm Springs still for work, about a 4 hour drive, and so was often not home during the week. After about two years, my Grandma and Mom decided they couldn’t handle the desert life anymore…(I think it was that rattlesnake they found in one of the bathrooms that was the final straw).

Also, at that time around the end of 1980, I had bought a 3 bedroom condo in HB. I was able to do it with some of the construction work money, and also my Mom and Dad helped out. It actually was her idea, maybe a way to assure I would keep working and also have a good investment.

By the end of 1981 however I decided school was more important to me and basically quit working.

So, the price I would pay was: my Mom and Grandma came back to live with me. Eventually my Dad did too, as Orange County work was booming again.

Now my Mom was back on my back. My days of freedom, fun and frolicking were over. I was a 22 year old bum that had about 1 years worth of general college completed. To make it worse I decided to change my degree from Business to Computer Science the beginning of 1983. Then to make it worse I got a programming job that paid little. Then to make it worse I fell for my future wife (that itself wasn’t bad, its just that I had no time nor money for a relationship).

My Mom accepted no excuses, she pushed pushed pushed. I eventually got that degree in early 1985 and was facing several hot job offers. We decided on the San Jose job, and I am pretty sure my Mom helped me pack my bags. She was pretty proud, and I bet, pretty relieved I wasn’t going to be a bum anymore.