So remind me periodically not to move just south of Lancaster, California. Before the word "trope" appeared much more often in print there was "Palmdale". If I had a dollar for very troubled personage who approached me for money due to being stranded with empty pockets and having to get back to that place between Quartz Hill and Rosamond, I could bundle it all up and buy a trip to New York City and say I've "been somewhere". Maybe I should count the times I've passed them by, for it's a trip I should take.

Which brings me closer to home; in my case I have yet to hear Newbury Park or Irvine or even Barstow. It's always Palmdale.

I was taking the Red Line Subway to see the last free show put on by FM 88.1 at the Highland Center with another trope mentally bet upon. But first, this is an easy trip: board in North Hollywood, sit through one stop at Universal and then off at Highland. At Universal a gent boarded and addressed our car: he had to get to Palmdale. Possibly I heard a "God bless" in there.

It made sense, for this train terminated at Union Station and there was at least one Metrolink he could make without hurry to the Antelope Valley. Of course, now one sees, and probably at the Station, all shades of smaller bus companies, probably driven by either Mom or Pop, and Greyhound is not the trope of yore. He did not approach me but had bills in hand as I detrained.

The band for the evening was a New Orleans themed brass band, which seem to be more and more a trope. Pop quiz: did I say I disliked tropes? No, here it was quite fun, with the trope somewhat deconstructed. Two fellows (out of the way: all male outfit) on drum-like objects---check. A heroic tuba player----check and tip. Now for the as advertised brass. The players take the stage to the count of an alto sax, and these outfits usually have one, sometimes two, from this family. Then there's one trumpet, one trombone . . . Apparently that's it.

I'm not dissing here, just saying. Usually these bands are a bit bigger. Play they did, and also sang as another trope to this genre. There were two segments with the break for a raffle and promotion. I got my anticipated tropes, and I'm not trying to be Slim Pickin's in "Blazing Saddles". While these bands play their fun "Nawleenz" repertoire there is contemporary material. In the first half they performed "You've got to move it, move it" which I know from my gym ratting but after the break I got what I had been telling half the population of the Valley (and maybe word got out to Palmdale) I knew they would do.

The obligatory Michael Jackson song! Stevie Wonder figures into this format also and I suppose they did one but for this essay, it was "Want to be starting something."

I remember a Palmdale candidate trying to start something and God's blessing was not quite invoked. It was decades ago in front of a local supermarket a suburban looking white kid approached me with The Spiel. I tried a tactic I'd observed, saying I was sorry but too many of these people approach me, know what I mean, buddy? Talk about grabbing a Portuguese Man O'War.

He strung together a stream of Carlin bombs. Such an insult; ever hear of pacing and grammar when you assail this fine citizen? When I came out he approached me: "Pardon me sir, I'm out here from Palmdale and I don't have any money and hey I just talked to you and you're a-----" Outrage again; I'm not big on repeats.

Back to Highland, there is Project Angel Food: for the money one gets a tray of cheese and crackers and two cups of wine. I ended up with four tickets for the vino. Final trope: one suspects many Palmdale wishers are after that and related material instead. To your health and I hope you enjoyed the ride.