newspaper “Es uno de los periódicos más importantes del país.” It is one of the most important newspapers in the country.
My very first Spanish learning experience was selling newspapers at Harbor General Hospital in 1960! I walked the old Harbor General Hospital, yelling, “The Daily Breeze, Daily Breeze!” After that, in Espanola, “Es uno de los periódicos más importantes del país.”
I’ve never forgotten those words. But, speak very little Spanish today.
This was the moment when I wanted to be a medical doctor. That wasn’t possible, back then, It was only a dream…
Instead, I fell in love with interacting with patients. I had great empathy and compassion for those who suffered from all sorts of bad stuff, including Hepatitis. I wore a mask when entering this restricted ward…
Many were very sick. I felt for them. I wanted to help them. They were kind to me. They seemed to love my smile😃.
I sold a bunch of papers too. Patients recovering from sicknesses of all sorts, reached out to me when I walked by yelling, “who wants a paper, who wants a paper! I learned to say that in Spanish too…
Back then, the Daily Breeze was 10cents. The Spanish news paper was 5cents. I can’t remember the name of the local Spanish paper. I think it was, “El Norte.”
The one thing I still have nightmares about was accidentally entering one of the UCLA Medical Center Research Buildings on the old campus.
I was looking for new patients to sell papers I there. I was good at finding new prospects. Still do that pretty good, I’d say…
I walked in and saw things I never should have seen. I’m still triggered and have nightmares about what I saw. I won’t repeat what I saw completely. It was horrifying!
I still see them vividly, the disfigured and suffering people. It still brings tears to my eyes, even to this day as I write this post…
I really fell in love with “Candy Strippers.” They were pretty young girls who volunteered at the hospital. They were kind and nice to me too…
The most memorable experience was meeting a pretty young lady who was sick. I fell in love with her, maybe…
I talked to her a lot when walking through her ward. I believe now she was very sick. Not sure with what. I didn’t care…
I know I loved her smile. Think she loved my smile too. I met her parents as well. They were nice and kind to me too…
Love and kindness was not something I knew much about back then. I think that’s why I love to be with folks who care for patients, especially health care workers, nurses and doctors.
They were nice to me too, and smiled a ⁰lot. I still love to be with health care workers. There is so much kindness and love in their hearts and souls…
I was the last paper boy at Harbor General Hospital in 1962 before the new UCLA Medical Center opened. I’ll never ever forget this beautiful early experience in my life as a teen…
I believe this is when I first learned about kindness and love ❤
https://dhs.lacounty.gov/harbor-ucla-medical-center/contact-us/
“In 1962, the UCLA School of Medicine expanded its class and as a result Harbor General Hospital was called upon to play a substantial role in primary clinical education of the medical students.
The current 8-story structure was built in 1962.
The Los Angeles County Harbor General Hospital began its affiliation with UCLA School of Medicine in 1951. Construction of the present eight-story hospital building was completed in 1962 on the easterly portion of the grounds, at Carson Street and Vermont Avenue, replacing a number of the wooden barracks and cottages comprising Harbor General.”
