MY O.C. over. The woman said the fixtures had always been in her parents’ bedroom, as far as she could remember. They were family heirlooms. “I’ll give them a second life,” I assured her. My mind danced with ideas as I envisioned these treasures in my redecorated bedroom. A worker, helping her with repairs, grabbed a ladder and loosened screws. The chandeliers clanged in complaint as they were removed from the only home they had ever known and placed into a cardboard box. I jammed the rattling pair into my hatchback and headed back to Yorba Linda.
AS I DROVE ALONG THE 22 Freeway, the hot summer sun reactivated the stench of nicotine and my own childhood memories. An image of my father’s side profile, his elbow resting out the open window of our speeding car, bobbed to the surface of my mind.
ONE AT A TIME, I GRIP EACH CRYSTAL TO FEEL ITS WEIGHT AND REMOVE THE ACCUMUL ATION OF DUST. I WHISPER PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE FOR MY CONTINUED HEALTH. With his left hand, he sucked in long drags of his Marlboro while his right hand guided the steering wheel. When I became old enough to drive, I imitated his refined thumb flick to release my own spent ashes into the wind. Back home, I filled the sink with hot, sudsy water. I disassembled the fragile fixtures with surgical precision. The plump, almond-shaped crystals came off like ornaments from a tree, while
O.C. Scene
the longer strands of jewels required finesse to avoid crimping the delicate wire holding them together. Piece by piece, they were dipped into a luxurious bath, leaving a yellow, powdery residue amid the bubbles. As I gently agitated the water to release the dirt and grime, their clinks and clatters reminded me of glasses toasting on New Year’s Eve. After their gentle scrubbing, I ran the jewels under clear, warm tap water, baptizing them for their new home. The larger crystals felt smooth and heavy, and they breathed in light as I buffed them shiny. When I held each up, little prisms gleamed and preened, invigorated once again. The stripped metal frames of the chandeliers were cloaked in a fresh coat of gold then reunited with their adornments. Standing on a step stool, I placed each piece on its awaiting prong. Crystals spouted from the top and dripped into glistening strands like
PROMOTION
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EVENTS
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OPENINGS
PROJECT HOPE ALLIANCE 8TH ANNUAL ANTI GALA “BOTTOMLESS HOPE” Project Hope Alliance’s Anti Gala was held at The Grand Gimeno in Orange, hosting over 180 guests as they enjoyed one-of-a-kind food and drink stations for brunch. This year’s event raised over $280,000 to help fund PHA end the cycle of youth homelessness.
Photo Credit: Project Hope Alliance
70 O RA NGE CO AST • August 2022
