September 15, 2014
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream…
This proffering has been a labor of love which I felt I haven’t been able to do justice to: mainly because I didn’t come to California in the fashion that I wanted to; nor have I always been able to live the Cali life in the fashion that I wanted…because of an albatross around my neck. But the albatross has flown and the huge weight lifted! I feel the warm Cali sun on my back again; the Pacific has been much warmer on Topanga’s inside shoulder; and, I seem to have time for everyone and everything these “daze”…I guess I’ve finally merged my Self with that Cali State of Mind…
At-the-end-of-August, 30-years-ago, I left Michigan– for good. It was also 30 years ago now, that I was swimming with many other teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District’s “teacher pool.” We were only figuratively swimming, as we awaited permanent assignments – but I’m betting most-of-us out-of-Staters were treading this crowded pond in the hopes of starting a new life on the Gold Coast; whereas home-grown Californians were hoping to continue their lifestyles: with Summers off and plenty of paid holidays in between (which is the California Way: work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and only a bit on Thursdays [if you have to]).
And now that I’ve lived over-half-my-life in sunny, So Cal – I’d say that that “new” life I sought — became my life! I’ve certainly had no regrets rejoining the Lost Atlanteans…drought or no drought.
Elsewhere I have written about watching the Trojans and Bruins playing on our old black-and-white Admiral during the frigid Michigan autumns and winters; when I sought to restore feeling to my feet after playing 2 hours of ice hockey (the other guys could always last for 4–hours-or-so – which I took as a sign that my circulatory system was not made for the Michigan cold!). I longed for the weather I saw on the Admiral, and was jealous of the t-shirts and Hawaiian shirts I saw on members of the Trojan and Bruin crowds – while the girls, well the California girls seemed like angels who had come to earth — but could only reside in California. This daydream resonated with the Beach Boys “California Girls” in my young, impressionable mind.
But if ever a song filled and haunted my entire being – it was “California Dreaming.”
I think I was just beginning to understand what the Viet Nam War was doing to our country, and somehow, the mood and lyrics of the song got me thinking that if we could all just live in California – then perhaps we wouldn’t be fighting a war that made leaves brown and the skies grey; making Michigan even gloomier to me.
Blue skies and sunshine were the solution! The California attitude!! “Make love not war”; or, “Surf’s up” – forget everything else and hop on a family wave!
Awhile ago I felt I had achieved Native Status with my 20th year in Cali: most assuredly I have it with 30 years! Everywhere else I’ve visited or resided in, except Port Elizabeth, seem pieces of another dream…I am now in the California Dream – wearing Hawaiian shirts almost daily (or no shirt at all)…
…merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream…