Leaving Los Angeles
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 2:49PM I've started writing for LA Moms Blog again and this is my first post, written right before I left the city for the 'burbs:
I love LA. Really, I do. I love the way it's all spread out; the way you can drive down Venice Boulevard through neighborhoods so different you might think you're in totally different cities (but you're not). I love the ocean breezes, the envy-inducing weather (not withstanding the recent rain/hail storms and freak tornado warnings), the way the sun looks as it sets over the ocean, nestled between Malibu and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I love the diversity of this city, especially as a biracial Asian American. I love that I can get really, really great ethnic food all over the city, be it Korean or Cuban or Ethiopian. It may not be New York - all constant buzz and not-a-moment-to-spare-for-you - but I love that Los Angeles moves fast, that there's always something going on, that it's exciting, but at the same time, you can escape to the beach or the mountains or the canyons and find yourself in what feels like a whole different world (but its not!). I even love the comforting familiarity of the 405, the way it bends to follow Sepulveda Boulevard and arcs around the South Bay, the way I know the freeway exits and what lays beyond them. I love that in LA, every day is an adventure.
Of course I'm not about to assert that LA is a utopian dreamland of any sort, but every city has its problems. We have bad traffic, congested freeways, pernicious gangs, silicone implants and Botox parties, the Los Angeles Unified School District and exploding pipes. I haven't shut my eyes and stuck my fingers in my ears at the high (and seemingly unreasonable) cost of living, the way people drive when it rains, the lack of neighborly friendliness.
Still, I love LA. And, without fail, I'm always mildly offended when I hear somebody bag on Los Angeles. I grew up in the suburbs south of the city and I've only lived inside LA's official city limits for about six years, but I consider it my hometown. I know this city. I get this city.
But next week, I'll be leaving it.
Los Angeles, Suburbia
Reader Comments (2)
You know, it's strange. I've never been to L.A., but putting up with dirty Manhattan through these slushy, grim, and dark winter months, my mind has been turning to how wonderful it must be to live in L.A. It seems like such a magical place, a wonderland that I've drummed up in my head as a perfect 70-something uncramped cosmopolitan city with happy lovely people from all walks of life. Walks along the beach, long drives along a scenic coast, good sushi, smiling people...I mean, I've just been kind of adoring it from afar. Your fond memories and high commendations for the city you have called home for so long makes L.A. even more intriguing to me - I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to live there.
You should come visit sometime!
I've never visited New York (but I might be there in August if everything works out), but in my head it's this wonderful city with lots of serious writers and smart people reading The New Yorker on the subway (the subway!). Also, everyone is wearing black and the women are all in very high Christian Louboutin heels. And silk scarves. They also all live across the street from Central Park where they take daily walks while contemplating their place in the universe.
The sushi is really good here. Also, so I hear, much cheaper.