Laundry, lunch and a nap?
By MATTERS BY JACK NEWORTH
One night on TV, I saw comedian and actor Larry Miller ("Pretty Woman,” “Mighty Wind,” “Best in Show") jokingly compare his work ethic with that of his father’s. He noted that while he was growing up, his father had three jobs: one 9-to-5, one in the evenings and one on the weekends. Miller said that if he does the laundry and makes lunch in the same day, he’s ready for a nap.
Sadly, I can relate. A few months back, I wrote a column about my friend Joe Geletko, 72, a retired Santa Monica mailman and soon-to-be motion picture star, though right now he’s a walk-on. Joe’s daily schedule includes surfing, casting calls for commercials and movies, collecting recyclables on the beach and following Notre Dame football. Joe’s energy level is so high he ought to have his own infomercial.
Joe told me that he had good news and bad news. The bad news was electrical and plumbing repairs on his house came to $1,230.20 in just one week! The good news was his residuals from commercials that month came to $1,230.60. Joe mused he made $0.40 for the month, but at least he was in the black.
Joe has a friend Ebba Rosenblad, who’s 75 years young, and I do mean young. They met on a commercial where they played the parts of fit seniors, which was definitely type-casting. Ebba may have more energy than Joe, if that’s possible. She’s like Wonder Woman without the cape. Ebba has won 16 gold medals in the Senior Olympics (is that all?) and works out constantly at Muscle Beach, where she’s an inspiration to many half her age. But recently, Ebba broke her hip during one of her routines. I knew there was a reason I don’t work out.
Like Joe, Ebba is definitely a “glass is half-full” person. She had to have surgery and recuperated at a convalescent facility, but her spirits remained high throughout. With her daughter Phoebe visiting, she looked more like the fitness director than a patient. Her room was filled with cards and flowers from her beach workout friends, a culture of interesting and eclectic people, many of whom are seniors. With rents in Santa Monica continuing to rise, I wonder if in 10 years the city will still have such colorful characters? I hope so.
When I was a kid and came to Santa Monica in the summers, I remember senior citizens on park benches feeding the pigeons. At the stately Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue — then a retirement home, now a trendy hotel — I remember seeing a hero of mine, the comic genius Stan Laurel. It was sad to me. He would sit silently in a rocking chair on the porch with a blanket across his lap.
I can tell you one thing, the seniors of that era weren’t skateboarding or bodysurf-ing or climbing on the rings. What’s happened? Is it the water? Vitamins? Does living in Santa Monica promote this trend or are these incredibly fit seniors drawn to this area? For me, they are either inspiring or intimidating, depending on how my day is going.
While the weather is still good, on a Sunday afternoon, pry yourself away from football on TV and go down to Muscle Beach, just south of the pier. On the beach are rings and bars, and on the grass area people do gymnastics, hula hoops and juggle. Santa Monicans have been doing this since the ’20s. It’s evolved into a combination traveling circus-outdoor gym. Be prepared, however. The cornucopia of sights and sounds may have you looking at your pot belly and saying, “I’ve got to do something!”
As for Ebba, the good news is she’s home and on the mend. At 75, she’s planning her big comeback. She wants to be ready for the 2007 Senior Olympics. I’ll be happy if my sock drawer is straightened out by 2007.
Ebba’s also eager to get back into commercials, and even movies. If they ever make “Wonder Woman: The Later Years,” Ebba would be perfect. Joe Geletko could play the septuagenarian Batman. If any casting agent or producer is reading this, please take note. I could even write the screenplay. Actually, I already have, but that’s another column. For now, I’ve done the laundry and made lunch, so I’m ready for my nap.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 29, 2006. Read the original PDF.