It felt like we were in a David Lynch movie, or something. If Dennis Hopper had walked up, I would’ve been like, “Hey Dennis, nice to see you. Can I get a picture of you with Liberace?”
Daniel had to go pick some materials up way out east in an area I think is called Rialto. It’s near Rancho Cucamonga. And it’s an arm pit. When we were driving back, we drove past this huge church that looked sort of like a warehouse that’s been all blinged out. It was all painted gold, and had some sort of shiny gold awnings, and big sections of windows that were tinted a reflective gold. It was bizarre.
So of course I had to pull over and take a picture of Flat Liberace with the blingy gold church.
Let me back up here. When in Vegas, I visited the Liberace Museum, and while there, I picked up a little cardboard cutout of Liberace. At the time I thought Daniel could put it in his office at work, but it didn’t take me long to realize it was the perfect photo blog subject—and Flat Liberace was born. I’m almost ready to launch the site, and I’ll post here when I have.
Anyway, there were a handful of cars in the parking lot, and we parked kind of far away from the building to get a lot of it in the picture. Some guy came out of the church and waved to us like we were someone he was expecting. I half-waved back, with Liberace in one hand, and my camera in the other. Then I put Liberace down on the pavement, snapped a picture (with that guy standing at the door to the church expectantly), and we turned to leave.
Walking toward us were two young punk guys, probably teenagers. One had a mohawk and the other an afro (they were both black) that he had a sort of hair band holding back off his forehead. They had on tight jeans, metal belts, very emo/punk-looking. And not at all what you’d expect two teenage black guys to look like. Especially in a place like Rialto.
They really just came out of nowhere, in the middle of this huge empty parking lot, walking right towards us. They said something to Daniel about catching a bus or a train or something and having been to a party the night before and they were just trying to get home. They called him “sir.” He said nope and made a beeline for the car. Then I heard, “something something, ma’am?” (My hearing wasn’t working too well.) I said, “What do you need? Some change?” and I reached into the car for my little change holder and gave them about a dollar in quarters (all that I had).
So we start driving out of the parking lot, and a woman pulls into the parking lot on a bicycle. The street she’d been riding on was at least a four lane street, maybe even a six lane street. (She was on the sidewalk.) Behind her was a toddler, about three years old, on foot. I thought, “That’s weird.” And then behind the toddler came another one, who looked like she was about four years old, pushing a stroller with a one year old in it. They all were running after their mom, who by this time was clear across the parking lot on her bike.
I said to Daniel, “This place is weird. We need to get out of here.” And we did.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I’m always the first commenter lately — lucky me!
At first I thought you were describing some strange dream and then I realized you weren’t and then I wished you were because that would be one cool dream and then I realized it was even cooler that it wasn’t a dream and then I took a breath because this was the longest run-on sentence ever.
The end.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I thought the same thing; I went back to make sure I hadn’t missed the part where you said it was a dream. Weird reality, though. Poor little kids.
So excited for Flat Liberace. So.Excited.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Weird huh? Not a dream. Felt like one though.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Dude. I could feel the creepiness and I wasn’t even there. I’m glad you guys left (although I’m looking forward to Flat Liberace and the blinged out church!).
And I’m with shazbraz –poor kids! Breaks my heart…
March 27th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Thor and I spent our first married year in beautiful downtown Rialto or as he put it “Rat Hole”. When a woman was raped and murdered in the lot directly behind our apartment it was a sign for us to leave. Before that it was just minor things like the string of burglaries in the complex across the street, the girl nest door who ran a “business” out of her apartment, or the TeePee hotel (which is weirdly cool/creepy).
Wow, thanks for the walk down memory lane! ; )
March 27th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hmm, the TeePee Hotel sounds interesting!
March 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Flat Liberaci may need to visit the TeePee hotel if Rialto ever comes a calling in your future Susan. I am excited about more Flat Liberace pictures.
Babies pushing other babies in strollers should only happen at home with a play baby in a tiny pink stroller.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
testing
March 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
hehehe. S’mee’s apartment in said Rialto was where we first encountered Judas Priest. Not s’mee and Thor, just us. We heard it playing from some guys stereo and just walked down to check it out. Thor and s’mee thought we were weird.
Funny that you’re starting the flat Libarace blog. S’mee’s cooking up something like that too. Love it.
Your writing read almost like a scene from Pulp Fiction.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Liberace is spelled wrong. aack.
March 28th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I can’t wait to see that picture!
March 29th, 2009 at 7:36 am
That sounds freaky! But I bet Flat Liberace had a ball!
March 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
the sad thing is, that we’re likely paying for bike riding moms breeding habits..
March 29th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Great story! I can see it all…you tell a great weird story. Can’t wait to see the picture!
March 31st, 2009 at 11:29 am
That is really bizarre about the kids. Sadly, I am overcome by wondering how she gets them to follow her. My children would never follow me if I took off on a bike. They’d probably go in the other direction and I’d never see them again.
Black emo guys = very odd.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:29 am
Rialto is a pit.
You always have the best adventures. Glad you always make it out alive.