We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget - Joan Didion
We woke up before the sun to get up and out to the airport first thing Easter morning. With California calling and Santa Monica sunshine on our minds, we waited for our boarding call. Thinking back to when I was little, we used to make at least a few trips out to the Golden State every year. As the years go by, family moves and begins to thin out and we haven't returned for a few years.
Upon landing we were greeted with the smog I used to ignore as a kid, but I couldn't hide my disappointment at the Hollywood Hills being hidden from sight behind the thick veil of atmospheric haze hovering low above the valley. Younger years would have found me mad dashing to the car to get to the ocean or to my aunt's house without so much as a second look at them. Now that they weren't waiting for me like I always remembered, I missed them.
As soon as we got to the rental car, it was time to plot the quickest route to the beach. We hear them being made fun of all the time, but it was my first time driving the 405, the 101, Sunset Boulevard, Ocean Avenue...you name it, we got lost and found ourselves on it.
Most of those times ended up being a blessing in disguise, as once the frustration subsided I quite enjoyed our trek up and down Mulholland Drive, we got close to the view we'd been looking for.
Finally, we rounded a corner and the salty ocean air swept through the open windows immediately. The Pacific took us both by surprise, as if we could have missed it entirely had it not been staring us in the face as we inched forward amidst traffic on top of the hill.
We followed the retreating tide a couple of miles down the shore, ebbing and flowing with its natural rhythm until we got to the pier. Pacific Park was a place often on the list during visits past, but this was my first time actually making it there. I'd been told the ferris wheel provided views not to be missed. It was hard to put my camera down to take in the moments as much as I would have wanted, but was able to capture memories that I can hold on to forever.
After having some time to breathe and begin to make headway through the intimidating backlog of pictures, I'm happy to start sharing some of these new favorite memories with you. I had hoped that the days may slow down now that an office job is no longer part of daily life, but it seems they just move quicker and quicker no matter what. Especially on a whirlwind trip to continue trying to capture what California means to me.
Have you ever been to California? Where are some of your favorite spots?
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