No Pain, No Gain

I finally went downtown. I can’t believe I’ve been here so long and never ventured that way. Of course, this won’t be a shock to those who know me best, my favorite part was riding the bus and subway. All of you were right, the bus/subway crowd is very different in LA compared to Boston. Even still, it was a taste of the Beantown that I still consider home.

What is it about the bus that I love so much? I remember a specific day I was going work when I was especially exhilarated by the trip. It was when I sat shoulder to shoulder with a guy named Charlie (everyone knew his name because he spoke loudly to himself in the third person everyday). He was the nicest schizophrenic I’ve ever met.

I remember telling Anne-Terese that I felt so alive in Boston, especially on the bus, because it felt like I was really a part of a community- a real community not divided by race, economics or even mental health. I remember saying that I was living the life I want to live when I literally rub shoulders with the mentally ill and others who are so different from me. Of course I know that’s exactly why most people don’t like riding the bus. I don’t know why I’m wired this way.

Anyway, I had forgotten about that conversation until yesterday when on the bus I met a guy named Dwayne an artist/homeless man. He was super nice, just a little lonely. We chatted for awhile and I felt alive again. And I went to the Grand Central Market downtown and mixed it up with every race possible! It was awesome. I crave diversity. It was good for me to remember this, since West LA is diverse in race, but not economic status. I have to make sure I get out of this area regularly and experience LA for the diverse crazy place it is.

All this to say, I was a little melancholy yesterday missing my friends in Boston, but also energized by remembering what makes me love life. The day can be summed up by a quote I saw yesterday painted on the side of a building downtown, “In this world there is a painful progress, longing for what lies behind and dreaming for the future.”

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I hope it's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yep, I know...you haven't heard from me in awhile. You would think this is the point where I humble myself and say I don't have a good excuse, but that wouldn't be true!

My computer crashed...dead...a fatal blow to every file and program I had. Anyway, the Geek Squad restored it for me so I am now back in business as far as emailing goes.

And then there's this thing called day time minutes. Yep, I would have called, but I ran over my minutes last month and learned an expensive lesson about keeping my yap shut! With the time difference anyone I talk to in Texas or Mass will be daytime minutes. Good news, I've upped my plan so I can gab away (for the most part).

All that to say, I love you dearly I've just been in no-woman's-land as far as communicating goes. I promise I'll be better!