Getting back to after I kind of recovered from my stroke, my doctor, Dr. Martin Krell, he told me, “I will not allow you to go back to work unless you have somebody with you.” So I went around to Baba’s Lawnmower Shop on Centinela and Venice and I told Mr. Baba, “My doctor won’t let me go back to work unless I have somebody with me.” So I said, “Pass the word around for a good helper” and a week later, this friend of mine recommended Salvador Jarro to me. I said, “Well, is he experienced?” He knows how to use equipment. He’s been gardening for quite a while now. So I said, “OK, let me hire him for a week and see what he does.” He’s been with me 27 years.

So since I retired, I gave him, I would say 97, 98 percent of my gardening route that I had before. So…as a gift. He’s earned it after 27 years. And he still helps me out once in a while. “Hey, Salvador, I need someone to help me do some weeding here.” He said, “OK, no problem.”

So he’s like family to me. I’ve known his kids when they were born and I’ve watched them grow up. I’ve seen his grandkids. So everything works out.