I’ve watched the news broadcasts over the past several weeks, showing fires devouring Los Angeles neighborhoods.
I spent over 25 years in that city and am not ashamed to say that I loved Los Angeles. Back then, there was a freedom of expression and adventure leaving fantastic memories. There are too many to name, but I’ll list some that still resonate many happy experiences for me: Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard, traveling the Santa Monica Freeway enroute to the Venice Beach, the Santa Monica Pier/beach, Malibu restaurants (that didn’t require a three-hour planned drive), Canter’s Deli on Fairfax, The Greek Theater, The Hollywood Bowl, the famous pink Beverly Hills Hotel, The Magic Castle, Griffith Park, The Rose Bowl, Paul Simon Museum, The Comedy Store and Foxx’s Comedy Club, Capital Records, Dodger Stadium, The Forum, The Observatory, The Brown Derby, hiking to The Hollywood Sign, and touring Will Roger’s house and its adjourning canyon.
The change in the city, since I left years ago, is almost unrecognizable with its intolerable traffic, substantial unhoused population, and affordable rents. Yet, these problems are pale in comparison to the devastating fires.
Even though I’m living in Europe, I regularly find myself paralyzed by grief and
helplessness. No matter what, I can’t erase this thought: we’re all standing at the edge of a deep precipice. I’m still aware of how close to the edge humanity is, unable to control much of its common space. We all know the drill… climate change, dogmatic leaders, and wars. It’s overwhelming, and somehow, we humans process our own recipes for survival. RESILENCE AND HOPE.
As each day rises, HOPE should be our garment of choice.
I am here. You are there. But we are breathing the same air.
Los Angeles, and all its dreams and problems, is still standing, even if its foundation is cracking. It’s called the City of Angels, and I cannot believe it will crumble.
Thank you Cheryl for writing your thoughts and feelings and memories of Los Angeles long ago and of the Los Angeles fires today. I am with you! We must pay attention. There is more going on than we read about in the news or watch media reports. LOVE is KEY for us all to move forward.
Oh Heather, I remember your home/art studio on the bluff in Malibu. It was a place of pure imagination and freedom. How I took that time for granted, thinking they’d be “forever”—how come I didn’t see the future??? As life throws us towards something darker than we could’ve imagined, I feel, the last bit of light, can only be held up by a signal spark called HOPE.
I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on LA. I went back five years ago and found myself in an archeological dig searching for the bones of LA and the life I lived until 1991. I found a treasure trove of memories that play like a movie production where all of the elements fuse in perfect pitch and harmony. Each picture frame a masterpiece imbued with a fine essence, A dream within a dream. Today I find myself a stranger in a strange land as my generation fades into the mists. I pray that a Renaissance, an age of enlightenment will soon arrive with the best foot forward.
I couldn’t see the forest for the sprawling palm trees and majestic sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. I couldn’t imagine that the city I loved so much would be tarnished by politicizing name calling, and blaming for a societal breakdown—ironically, this drum beat isn’t just in Los Angles, but in cities and towns all over the country, blinded by ignorant indifference. I’d like to think that my memories are endeared. They are about a city that nourished this wide-eyed young woman, who stepped onto the campus of UCLA; and took classes with a diverse, brilliant student population…whose studies were made possible from grants and scholarships received from the GI Bill, Affirmative Action, American Endowment of Arts, Rockefeller, Kennedy and Getty Foundations, The Urban League, The NAACP—and the list goes on. I like to think and believe, that many who have smelled the beauty of Los Angles, will find it in their hearts to forgive HER.