June 2012 scshview_2012-06.pdf - Sun City Shadow Hills

8
My Xanadu
BY MYRON CRESPIN
Xanadu, that mystical Mongolian city, Kublai Kahn’s
capital in the 12th century, was his Shangri-La, his
magical city, Chandu. In 1298 a traveler wrote the
following:
“Between north east and north, you come to a city called
Chandu, which was built by the Kahn, now reigning.
There is at this place a very fine marble Palace, the
rooms of which are all gilt and painted with figures of
men and beasts and birds, and with a variety of trees
and flowers, all executed with such exquisite art that
you regard with delight and astonishment.”
Where was my Shangri-La, my Xanadu? Over 40 years
ago Gina and I moved into our first home in Mar Vista.
We were in love, and this was our very own Xanadu –
a small two-bedroom, one-bath cottage built right
after WWII. We were both New Yorkers, city people,
apartment dwellers. Never lived in our own home. Never
had a mortgage. Never had a front lawn or owned a
lawnmower. Gina was hoping for a larger, more stylish,
newer home; but this is what I could afford at the time.
I told her, “Not to worry, it’s only temporary, and we’ll
buy a new one in five years, someday I’ll build you a
June 2012 Tune in to Channel 98 · Log on to www.scshca.com
Photo by Sid Weiss