January 2026

Gettin' Back to Where I Belong

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 07/31/2025

I couldn’t go home but I needed to go back to my neighborhood.  Chelsea’s neighborhood is lovely but I don’t know anyone and I don’t know the area.  I needed to be in Pasadena, at least!

No one had offered me a place to stay.  I called several Villagers but they were already helping someone else or just could not help me for one reason or another.  I called Katie to see if she knew of anyone.

Katie told me to call Beverly Braun, a member who had offered a room to a displaced Villager.  I called her.  We made an appointment to meet.  I came with Chelsea, Wes and Dalton.  Beverly had her son, Jim, with her.

We sat in her spacious living room and got acquainted.  She showed us the room she had for me.  It was at one end of a wing of the house.  It had windows on three sides, a skylight in the bathroom over the shower, a door out of he bathroom to a walkway to her front garden.  The room was about the size of my living room in my burned home.  There was a queen bed, a sofa, built-in desk, book shelf, cupboards and drawers.  The closet was behind bifold doors and even had a window.  There was a big square tub and beautiful tiles in the shower and on the counter.  The sink looked like a big sea shell.

Most of all there was room for a work table.  I would have room to create art.  The walkway to the garden led to a lawn under a sprawling oak tree.  It would be a perfect outdoor studio.  

This place was in a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood, close to the Village and close to friends.  I wanted it! 

Beverly and I did not know each other.  She needed to be careful about who moved in.  She even offered a room to Dalton.  It was agreed we would all think about it and she would get back to me. 

While Dalton chose to stay with Chelsea and move into their guest room, I was hoping to be able to rent this lovely place, which would include kitchen privileges and laundry facilities. 

It took three very long days before I heard from Beverly.  She offered me a 6-month lease.  In the meantime the City of Pasadena offered me a place at the Langham Hotel and Resort.  I stayed at the Langham for 10 days and then moved into this wonderful home on Prospect Crescent, two doors from the famous Frank Lloyd Wright home. 

I could hat have landed better.

 I was comfortable and safe in a lovely garden setting alive with wildlife, birds, butterflies and dragonflies hovering over the pond and fountain.  The hard part was the homesickness.  I pined for my home at 517 Wapello street.  I was homesick and free to go home but there was no longer a home.  That part was hard. 

Through all of this I began to know Beverly.  I knew she had a generous heart, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.  I learned how she liked things to be in her home.  I learned where things were.  She assured me that my friends and family were welcome to visit.  We found ourselves laughing together, reminiscing about the old days, sharing stories of raising our kids and so much more. 

Bev has been a Village member longer than me but no one seemed to know her.  She has an active life but does not do much with the Village.  That’s changing.  She and I have done a number of Village activities together and she is doing things with the Village without me.  We are both independent and we both love to laugh.  We have many things in common and many different interests.  She loves NASCar racing and baseball.  I love classical music, Latin jazz and R&B.  We both love french toast with raspberry jam, chocolate and pasta.  She’s tiny and I’m big but we both have generous hearts.  She feels like an old friend now. 

Bev has extended my lease for another six months.  In the meantime, our new house in Altadena is being drawn by a wonderful architect.  We plan to build back with adobe.  The Los Angeles Times plans to follow our rebuild all the way through.  I may be 80 but I have a bright future.