The shimmering lights reflecting off the oceans blue surface fall upon my face, as I feel a slight tingle on the lightly reddened skin of my cheeks and nose. What was once a beautifully warm 85 degree day, falls to a breezy, yet comfortable, 67 degrees. The gentle blow of the wind makes its evening announcement by the shiver it runs through my body as it lightly sweeps through my hair.
As the day comes to an end and exhausted from a leisurely day of bathing in the suns' rays, I sit relaxed on my towel. Staring at my feet as they play with the beaches cool and gritty sand, the light brown granules seeps through the crevices of my toes like it would through the hole of an hourglass. I deeply inhale the smell of salt and seaweed being washed ashore by breaking waves. I observe as the high-tide washes away any evidence of my footprints in the sand, as if it only wants to leave its own mark behind; a thin layer of white sea foam.In a warning to head home before dusk, I hear the seagulls squawk to each other in their own language as the sun starts to set to the West. Waiting in anticipation, the bottom edge of the once radiant sun lightly grazes the top of the oceans horizon, and at that very moment I witness the rare occurrence of the mythical, “Green Flash.
”I continuously watch the sun play a game of peek-a-boo while lowering itself behind the never-ending long stretch of water. I can’t help but to stare in amazement at its calming illusion, while it tries to tease my eyes into thinking that the world is flat.Famously known as, “The World’s Finest City,” this is my favorite place. My native home, San Diego, California. Previously fatigued from the long day, I gather myself together to experience the night life and suddenly experience a second wind.
The excitement and aliveness as I walk among the busy crowds of people, cars, and multitude of sounds during the night, is an environment I have yet to discover anywhere else. Free entertainment comes in the form of identifying people who have indulged in the plentiful options of never ending alcoholic beverages wherever one may need to stop their tired heeled feet.For the moment I feel separated from the real world, almost as if I’m in my own little bubble of fashion forward people, but that imaginary land bursts as I’m quickly humbled by the sight of a down-in-out individual asking for spare change to get something to eat, although everyone secretly knows they’re looking for their next “fix” to get them through the night. To outsiders this may be too much of a sight and be a culture shock. For natives like myself, I would say you have found yourself in downtowns Gaslight District.I have great pride in my unique and visually beautiful place.
Its history goes way beyond the times of the 1880’s when Wyatt Earp strolled down the streets of what once entertained the traveling gambling men, and filled by brothels occupied by the ladies of the night in the notorious Stingaree District.Transformation of the districts along 4th through 6th Avenues have now become uber trendy clubs, entertainment venues, theatres, restaurants and the cities own version of hipster chic with its art galleries and livable/work style lofts. From professionals, to the larger than life, Comic-Con convention. I cannot help but to laugh at the sight of a grown aged man dressed as an Angry Bird, or the scantily clad woman dressed up as a sexified Star Wars character. Every week is a new story as a convention starts, and comes to an end, lightening up the weekend.Being a natural descendant, my family comes from a long line of original settlors that formed the multi-cultural Old Town.
Its melting pot of Europeans, to Native Americans, and Mexicans, has made what my beautiful city is today.Oklahoma has been my home for some time now. It's been a place I've learned to love, set my roots and where I can lay my head down to sleep at night. Even though physically I may be 1,300 miles away, California will always have my heart and soul.
