Ann Britt and Chrissy Britt

00:00 Hi, my name is Ann Britt. And I am 81 years old and today is September 23rd 2020. I'm currently in Oregon in the last few months. But I've lived most of my life in Los Angeles. So most of my stories are about Los Angeles.

00:20 I am sitting here talking with my 27 year old granddaughter whom I love dearly Chrissy.

00:30 Rest

00:34 Okay, your turn for my grandmother and currently I'm in LA.

00:50 Sunland Park Mountain and I am interviewing my lovely grandmother and and bread.

01:01 So, where would you like to start? What would you like to hear about?

01:06 So where is specifically in La did you grow up? And what was your childhood like?

01:15 Well, I was born at the beginning of the second world war in Chicago. My brother loves to say to me that I was born on the day that Germany invaded Poland the official beginning of the second world war. So that was interesting August 23rd 1939, but when I was two my parents moved to Los Angeles, so I don't really remember much about Chicago. I spent all of my life until last March when covid-19 Ravine in Los Angeles and me Hollywood and San Fernando Valley area grew up in Hollywood The Graduate of Hollywood High School.

02:03 And I have seen so many changes in my lifetime. What was the first thing you remember about La? Well, we lived in Hollywood near the Hollywood Bowl and we walked every place cuz we didn't have a car when I was a little girl. And I remember the trolley car and we take the trolley cars are the buses to the beach or into the valley to go to a picnic. This was before freeways. And so did a lot of walking my dad and I would walk to the down to Hollywood Boulevard and over to Ivar to the Hollywood library or I would get there a stack of as many books as they would let me take and my goal was to read every book in the library. I'm still an Avid Reader by the way, but I have not met my goal.

03:06 So it was a it was some.

03:11 Open childhood growing up in Hollywood. How many places in La do you think that you lived?

03:21 Oh, not very many. I think I lived in two places in Hollywood. And then I moved in San Fernando Valley and in home that my parents bought when I was a senior in high school. That was the house that I just sold a few months ago actually have been in our family for 64 years place where you spent a lot of time.

03:53 So what what did your parents do?

04:01 My dad was had a degree in journalism. He was a sports reporter when they met but my parents mad, but when he came out to LA it was during the war. He got a job in a in a paper warehouse and got deferred so he didn't have to go into the war and that's kind of where he spent the rest of his life while he did his writing at home at night and on the weekends, and my mom was a housewife until I was a teenager when she went to work at a department store.

04:36 And you went to UCLA right? I did. Yes. I I graduated from Hollywood High. I was in student government. I was the student body vice president and I was valedictorian of my of my graduating class only. We were not a wealthy family its own father said we can only afford to educate one child. And so that will be your brother because he has to support a family you will get married and have a husband to take care of you to wish my mother replied.

05:13 She's going to go to college.

05:17 I was the oldest my brother is 4 and 1/2 years younger, so we bought a car so I could go to UCLA.

05:25 In high school, I had met actually before high school. I had met my husband in church Sunday school when I was 8 and he was 10 and we remain friends in a in a in a church youth group and then started dating in high school when we got married while I was still in college as my senior year in college. And by the time I was 28, I had three children.

06:02 I had also done some teaching. I talked really Unified School District for a little while and substituted when you know, my kids were little.

06:14 Ms. Always and it was always important to me to have my own self expression my own I don't know if he would call it a job exactly, but it was important to me and I was a teacher. Even though. I was even though I was totally at that point involved in being a wife and a mother and a corporate why you know doing the best that was really really important to me that time it was just different. That's the standard now, but I was in when I was looking forward to what I was going to do with my life the choices were over for a woman. You got to be a nurse or a teacher.

07:00 And I was real clear. I didn't want to be a nurse but I couldn't stand the sight of blood so but teacher fit me very well that I've always felt like I was meant to be a teacher and a helper always been important to me to be of service.

07:18 How ya at future, I remember you telling me that you had developed more interest in the children teaching my medication. Definitely when I when I went back to teaching full time when Greg my youngest was in preschool.

07:44 I was teaching second grade and I was very aware that I was very interested in the children's relationship with their parents and their emotional development and social skills and not so interested in teaching them how to read and write and do math. So I was actually teaching team T-Pain with another second grade teacher and she has been a Psychology major in college. He said let's go back to school and become a psychotherapist and I said, what's a psychotherapist I never heard of that and she said, oh you'd be great at so we did we went off to we applied at Cal State Northridge and I went back to school together. My degree in my degree is officially in educational psychology, guidance and counseling

08:43 No education education psychology guidance and counseling and then I went on and and did my hours and became a licensed marriage and family therapist.

08:54 Ms. What you do know is I'm going to do it until I can't talk or listen anymore.

09:03 I love it. I love you part of people frozen exploration.

09:11 And it was a therapy.

09:17 No, she's going to lead into your clinic days. Yeah, that's where I was going. I was going to say is one of the requirements of my master's program was and I had to do an internship to my hours for my licensing and one of the professors pointed me in the direction of the North Hollywood free clinic.

09:37 So I applied and found out after I got accepted that they have been founded into let's see. I'm not in 1970 and this was like 1978.

09:52 And all the original people who had come together in the 70s to deal with drugs and all this all the changes that we're going on in the seven days I had

10:08 Resigned and the whole organization was in chaos, and there were a few of us that were there going. What do we do now? And we decided to said it was providing a good service to the community. And so we decided that we would find a way to pull it together and keep going and there was a doctor that was volunteering who helped us get our first ever Grand don't think it was from Cal Community, but it was helped us stay alive long enough to begin to rebuild so myself and about two or three or five of us all together.

10:56 Put a lot of energy into keeping the organization going not having any idea what we were doing but never been my intention to be the CEO of a non-profit, but that's what I found myself ending up and we went from that day of almost closing our doors to 25 years later when I left the clinic. We have become a federally qualified Health Center with a budget of 9 million dollars providing.

11:29 Services to low-income uninsured regular Medical Services Dental counseling

11:39 Optometry Family Planning the entire range of services. So that was not something I had planned on but it was fun. I learned a lot kind of stumbled along and found my way and we were very fortunate to be on the receiving end of you know, I learned about these philanthropic philanthropic World from being on the receiving end and helped us move forward with the things that we wanted to Bill new organization.

12:23 At still going today at 7. It's an awesome Clinic. Yes when I didn't leave until I was sure I could leave it in good hands and turn the reins over to Holly Wilson to begin our director of development for many years while I was there.

12:42 And passed the Baton and they have just grown and blossomed. And now I think they have two or three different sites are an established institution in the community.

12:53 But that was one of those unintended consequences no idea. We're also very very proud. I for sure I feel good about it, but I never gave up and I opened up my office and even though I was spending, you know my days at the clinic. I was still seeing clients in the evening and people would say to me at the clinic. How can you do that? How can you spend a day at the clinic and then go to your office and see clients? I said you don't understand that's what keeps me going. That's what makes it possible for me to show up at the clinic everyday. That's my internal nourishment cell.

13:42 Yes, it fits. It feeds me and saying I like that you do different price sessions for your therapy and you have a range of

14:03 People that you give to its not want one criteria. I nothing excites me more than working with a client who is aware and open and wants to grow and wants to look at themselves and try to make their life better. I find that very exciting. So I always make room in my practice for those kinds of plants and they have always said that people need therapy the most when they are least able to afford it because usually we going to therapy when were in transition or in crisis or life is falling apart and from my perspective is therapist when your life falls apart. It's like a boy now we get to go to work because it fell apart for recent. Something's not working. Let's figure out a better way to make your life work for you. So yeah, I have clients that pay me $10 a session.

15:02 And I particularly like to work with young people kind of interesting. I have a lot of young people in their twenties in my office right now, so

15:12 It's kind of fun to get them before those bad habits get to cemented is there is and I you know, I have a lot of compassion for everyone who's struggling with a cobra is shoe right now. I think about parents with small children who are trying to

15:37 Do school at home while they're also trying to work but I think it has also hit young people very hard because there aren't a lot of jobs opportunities that everything shut down and you can't you know, this is a in your twenties is a time in your life when you're going out and finding out who you are and connecting with people and and that's just not so easy to do right now.

16:04 It's true. You've taught me tools to keep me going during this time. What have you learned go with the flow go with the waves. But like I say to my clients one of the things that's happening right now is that none of us can see around the corner? We have no idea what's coming up now really requiring us to stay more and more in the moment. So my Mantra to people is left right left, right? Just figure out what the next step is.

16:42 And take it.

16:44 Have to go through all of the emotions.

16:47 About some people want to be happy all the time, but just have to ride the wave add views. Yeah, absolutely.

17:06 Can I ask you a question? How have you evolved as a therapist over your many years of seeing clients?

17:17 Oh, well. Oh, well, I'm a I'm a voracious learner. So I have

17:27 Always attended workshops read books tried to stay on The Cutting Edge of research and and and current thinking so I always I always say to myself that I'm working on myself. I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of my clients. So

17:51 I I think that I have

17:55 I I I I value curiosity above almost any other trade because it just makes life so juicy if you're curious about yourself and you're curious about others and you're curious about life, so I'm with every client as if it's a whole brand new situation and I've done this for such a long time. I think I'm I think it's like going on thirty-eight years now. I really trust what comes through me as I'm working with a client. So if people ask me what what is your theoretical orientation or you know, what tools do you use I don't really have an answer because I feel like because I have taken in so much in terms of learning and reading and growing myself that I trust and I'm going to have what my clients need from me in the moment and sometimes it's kind of weird. I'm sitting with a clock

18:54 And something will come out of my mouth and I'll go wow. I didn't know you knew that.

19:01 And it's totally in response to a client is presenting.

19:10 It's organic and I'll send text at this point it is

19:18 How would you like to be remembered?

19:23 Oh my goodness. I would like to be remembered as having made an impact having having had a positive influence on people in my life and the situations that I've been in that I

19:41 I made a difference.

19:43 And your relationships in your family and connecting is seems to what keeps you going solutely know if you know if people ask me what is my major accomplishment in life, I was the most important thing in my life has been my family adventures and fun things to do and challenges. It just comes back to the family.

20:13 For me

20:21 What does flim-flam mean to you a little bit?

20:34 Well philanthropy is I said, I've been on both sides of it. I've been on the giving side and I see how important it is for the community to support.

20:48 Organizations particularly and and people in situations and I'm also been on the receiving end of philanthropy at the clinic. That's what made it possible for us to do the work that we did. One of the program's I'm most proud of is that in the I think it was the 80s we

21:17 Created this teen pregnancy prevention program at the clinic where we brought in high school students male and female and pop them about sexually transmitted disease birth control relationship issues and then taught them how to go out and talk to their peers.

21:49 And it was very successful. We got nationally-recognized and at one point Jane Fonda was married to Ted Turner and living in Atlanta Georgia, and she wanted to start a teen pregnancy prevention program in Georgia. And so she went to Health and Human Services the United States government and said, where are the model teen pregnancy prevention programs and they sent her to us. And so she came and became very much up. She talked to everybody in the program and learn how to do it and even brought some of us a couple of our health educator Educators to Atlanta to help her advise her and she became a great supporter of the clinic.

22:42 That was supposed to remember that event that we went to I think she was there was no she wasn't done anyway. He was very supportive of us for us.

23:10 Is that not so you can find out about the California California Community Foundation correct? And and always was very supportive of of so many organizations in Los Angeles and help keep us informed and address topical issues and support especially Innovative programs that we would come up with. So, I really appreciate the support. They gave us over the years. That's why I'm a contributor.

24:01 Do you have any Christian just kind of curious if you would be willing to answer this, but I don't know what something that you've learned from your grandma's.

24:14 Oh man so much. I have taught you more than I will ever know. I was like what I like to hear about that. Hahaha. I mean it's kind of hard to put into words. I mean I moved 16, so that was like a penny, you know critical point a lot together.

24:54 And I think just the overall taking is just being humble and kind and curious like you said and I've kind of always like my whole life. So stop everything that she shoes with explored a broad-spectrum together have a high that might be labeled it up. You know, I was like

25:32 You don't have to believe in one thing you can cannabis be open-minded and explore, you know, all sorts of different Avenues of beliefs in life. There's no harm. No foul long as it's not hurting anyone but, you know just workshops and Aliens homegrown. Yeah, you know spray is new technology and you have decided to pursue.

26:14 Nutrition right as a result of all your Explorations send your health challenges yourself and not kind of household an opportunity to explore. The intent of Truly find myself is what what my grandma provided and turn away after that amount of time living it to the fullest.

26:52 Yes, I'm glad you said that cuz that's that's really I really value that just really fully engaging and embracing life and all of its opportunities and all of its challenges and pain.

27:06 You know why I sometimes say to my clients, you know bless the pain. It's what awakens us to consciousness.

27:17 But but what is it the wound is where the light enters but definitely.

27:29 Yep, that was certainly my experience my husband and I divorced after 22 and 1/2 years of marriage and I was so devastated. I was in my early forties and you know just was not sure.

27:49 Where I was going on as a matter fact, I was sure I was going to become a bag lady even though there was a lot of evidence that that was never going to happen. But at my life became so opened and in Richton up and full of opportunities, so the pain was worth it.

28:15 Yeah, you have to go through the go to the struggle.

28:18 Yeah. Yeah, but they say there's a saying breakdown before breakthrough and that's so often the case, you know things have to fall apart so that we can put them back together again and

28:35 In a better way, I know everytime. I think I have it figured out. I realize that I don't at all know probably be good anytime. You think you have it figured out then you're kind of a sliding into complacency, which is not good.

28:56 There's always more.

29:01 Very true

29:04 I've always said that when I come to the end of my life, I'll be I'll be saying know what are some things. I really hope for in your life and

29:19 Well, I want to be able to continue to work with my clients now. It's my phone and zoom Latin person because I find that so

29:33 Enlivening and so much fun. I moved to Oregon where two of my children are living now. So I'm I'm very much enjoying spending more time with family and in this town if I move to Bend Oregon, which is population hundred thousand, which is very very different from Los Angeles. So I'm very much enjoying spending more time in nature and having us lower life paste.

30:07 But still devouring books. Absolutely. I'm sure what it's my time to pass on. I will have a stack of books by my bad going by the client last me to ask me the other day on his session. She could hold of you instead of maybe one. You don't sound 81-81.

30:40 Or you definitely kept it healthy to

30:45 Yeah, definitely. Well, if you know you that's that's part of State open to life is taking good care of of your vehicle. When you have to love yourself before you can love others. I mean, I don't have to but it is it is a accept yourself.

31:12 That's the hardest one thing for many people.

31:17 Yeah, you're taught me that one, too.

31:19 Oh, yeah.

31:27 So I know it was such a it was such a blessing. It was such a blessing for me when you when you came into my life worse when you were born, and then of course when you decided to move to Los Angeles and become my roommate.

31:41 Yeah, even though it wasn't particularly plan, but that's okay right left, right?

31:56 Can I ask where there any rituals or routines that you had when you both live together, like for example, having coffee together or something like that, but that sticks out to you.

32:11 Oh my goodness. Did we have any particular routines Chrissy?

32:15 I think kind of like every Sunday we would come together. I mean I would have took quite a bit and I would always make me pretty cuz I think that she had been topped out on the cooking. So I think that was a special thing for us anytime. I just sitting around there is a dining room table, but not necessarily like the formal is kind of like a bar area right right kind of sitting across at the bar eating food and came down. She was 16, but she had her driver's license, but you didn't have your car right? And so when you fight the first year you lived with

33:15 I had to drive you to school and all your activities and everything and that time in the car. So precious you were a captive participant in conversation and enjoy I did but I was I was sad when you got your license in your car. Yeah, it was always nice after that if we went to the good talking time over meals over meals and in the car.

34:01 And I will probably be moving to Oregon at some point. So we'll have a whole new memories to create even though we don't have that house anymore and raise your babies in Oregon. I just be a great grandma and I'm going to stay healthy for that 20 + 20 + 20 + years to go more miles in the cave.

34:37 I'm counting on like a hundred and something hundred and ten hundred fifteen.

34:42 I'm willing to go the distance as long as I'm in good shape.

34:53 Do you have any other things that have Leah?

34:57 No. If you don't have any other questions, you can stop early or you can finish out however you want and then just let me know you're done.

35:07 Are there any closing words that you have that you want to leave or any I guess closing wisdom for people?

35:19 Live life Fully live love laugh and be happy.

35:29 Chrissy it's been such a you've been such a joy and such a contribution to my life. I think you know that. Thank you.

35:45 I said send to our conversations that we've had.

35:50 Yes, we have deep conversations.

35:55 Since I always say that that you skip a generation. Sometimes you connect with your father. There are totally different Dynamics and totally different issues with parents and as a child growing up your job is to separate from your parents and sometimes that can be cancel. The grandparent role can be very important.

36:28 Thank you for my pleasure.