Living Out Loud, Los Angeles

Endless Smiles with the Suburban Monk

Living Out Loud — Los Angeles

There was a massive golden Laughing Buddha statue in the waiting area of one of my parents’ favorite Chinese restaurants we often frequented when I was a child. My mom said, “Rub his belly for good luck,” and I would do so and giggle. The story of how Ellen Atkins came to create the Suburban Monk is equally full of smiles and statues of monks.