Happiness Counts

Since I was running late for my Monday luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I decided to take the back roads above Sunset to get there. Turning south down Crescent Drive, I spied a rockstar parking space in front of the pink bungalow with the grand weeping tree. As I stepped out of my car, a Hollywood tour van stopped next to me. The door opened and the driver asked, “Are you famous?”

He only had three passengers, but I could see that he was trying to entertain them.

“I’m not. I just own a store on Canon Drive. However, I’m related to a celebrity, Paula Abdul.”

“I love Paula! Here take my number and I’ll drive by your store.”

So, I scanned his business card and added Rodney to my contacts. I wished his passengers a good day. Then I quickly walked to the lush garden entrance of the hotel, eager to see mensch, macher, and guest speaker, Alan Rothenberg, whose life is so full of accomplishments that it requires a Wikipedia page.

For the luncheon, the National US Soccer Hall of Fame inductee spoke about the financial impact of sports on Los Angeles. With three major events coming up, World Cup, Super Bowl, and the Olympics, Los Angeles is positioned to earn billions by 2028.

My head was spinning between imagining Beverly Hills tourism marketing opportunities and pondering what I’ve done with my life that is legacy worthy.

At the end of the talk, I walked up to Alan and his family, who I’ve known since high school, and thanked them for attending. His wife told me that she loved her Mother’s Day gift that one of her sons purchased at my store. It always makes me happy when I learn that something I curated brings joy to others.

I exited the hotel through the double doors near the Polo Lounge and bumped into the gentleman who sat next to me at lunch. Peter had parked near me, so he walked me to my car. We were so deep in conversation that we just stood on the sidewalk and continued to chat. I revealed that I attended Westlake and he said that his kids went to Harvard-Westlake.

I admitted that I often feel like I haven’t done enough with my life, that I’m just a shop girl. “I’m not like the HW alums who have brought the Rams back to LA, run for Governor of Massachusetts, been Mayor of Los Angeles, and a CNN White House correspondent. They all have Wikipedia pages. I have an about tab on my website.”

Just then, a packed Hollywood Tour van stopped. The doors flew open, and the animated driver shouted out to me.

“Hi Rodney! Hi everyone! Hope Rodney’s giving you the best tour! Enjoy Beverly Hills!”

Peter said to me, “I think you’re underestimating yourself.”

I suppose my superpower is how I connect with people whether they are law partners, strangers, or students.

Each Friday there are two Yeshiva boys, who walk down Canon Drive looking for Jewish men to help with the mitzvah of tefillin. Since I can’t wrap myself in leather, I’ve asked them to teach me Torah.

So, last Friday afternoon we discussed Parsha Bamidbar, which is read the Shabbos before Shavous. It’s the beginning of the Book of Numbers and explains how G-d wanted Moses to count the children of Israel. Regardless of their position in society, they were all counted because each man possesses a divine spark within.

I asked the guys for the Rebbe’s interpretation. The taller student answered that we all have purpose and value despite being assigned different roles in life. G-d gives us what is meant for us, and we need to strive to make the world brighter for everyone.

I smiled listening to the lesson. I'm not Wiki-famous because I’m a shop girl!

I am a connector.

I am a curator of happiness.

I am counted.