We first noticed the stifling heat of East Coast summer giving way to a pleasantly warm, ocean breeze filled evening. We felt ourselves relax, within minutes of being in LA, it felt like returning home. Los Angeles is an unlikely contender for a favorite city for both of us, and yet, when we think about where we’d like to end up, it sits firmly in the top ranks. You’d think we’d hate it here, the traffic, the perpetual summer, the superficiality. But we don’t. We love it (most of the time). Los Angeles is many things, but it always unapologetic in its absurdity. It’s a city that recognizes it’s contradictions. Though finding your place here can be difficult, once you do, it’s home. For us, that’s always been the east side, and while the west side often results in a fair amount of eye rolling from both of us, we still love it. In some odd, love to hate sort of way that keeps brining us back. It’s also where the ocean is.
Category Archives: United States
Dear New York
I could tell you all the ways in which you make life hard. How now, as I approach 30 the scale has shifted and your joys no longer outweigh your trials. At first I saw it as a defeat, that I no longer loved you, your energy, your opportunity. But then, I realized it’s not a loss, I’ve just found myself more. Like the 23-year-old you met years ago, I am still somewhat wayward and searching, but I know myself better. I know what’s important to me, and what compromises I don’t want to make. I’m seeking closer daily communication with nature, with community, with a slower pace and fresh air. Though you still provide thrills, the daily efforts and financial burden of living here are no longer worth it. And I’m OK with that. Though if you told 23-year old me that one day she would feel this way she might be disappointed in her decidedly less-hip older self. There’s a pride in surviving this city. For those that call it home, I understand. But I can’t imagine it ever feeling like home. Continue reading
Desolation Wilderness Backpacking with Trail Mavens
Mt. Tellac
I tromped my way through the backcountry in the Wicklow Mountains, in Western Ireland, desperately trying to keep up the quick pace of my fellow hikers, who seemed to be skipping easily across the weed-laden, muddy grounds of the valley floor. I was mostly trying not to get stuck in mud, which when hiking in Ireland is omnipresent. While they all carried on easy conversations at a 5-6km/hour hiking pace, I nodded and smiled, hoping my temporary distraction wouldn’t result in my falling over, or sliding down the embankment. One of the group leaders yelled back “careful now, last week your woman* got her leg stuck in the mud up to her mid-thigh! We had a hell of a time getting her boot back!”
Excellent. Continue reading
Ten-Year High School Reunion
Best Friends Since the 90’s
Back at my childhood home my best-friend from growing up (Cyndi) and I flip through our old yearbooks. We’re trying to figure out who someone (who we deemed “pink shirt guy”) was. We didn’t remember him. Which was odd because Pullman is small. Our graduating class was 200, everyone at least knew who everyone else was. We finally found him, turns out he’s in a different class. Which, makes sense, as the organizers of the event decided it would be a “social class” of 2005 reunion. Whatever that means. But this is typical of PHS class of 2005-we, as a class, were not fans of rules or expectations. We were, collectively an odd bunch.
Colliding With The Earth 