Malibu and Zuma Beach, Santa Monica, and Hollywood… those stops were all included before we had to head back to the airport; there just wasn’t enough time to do it all. We passed by our old apartment, and ended up at our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch before leaving LA. It wasn’t quite the same the first time we left…
I really enjoyed our time in Los Angeles. Besides meeting people at work that became family and will remain life long friends, living somewhere else was a really great experience. Of course, taking advantage of a 2nd chance between my future wife and I was the true goal; returning back home to Chicago was part of the plan. Being so close to so many beaches, up and down the coast… seeing the mountains every day after living in a flat land my whole life… sunny and blue skies every single day… there were many things to like about LA. Being close to Vegas was nice too; we made that road trip through the desert many times. Driving up the coast on the 1 to San Francisco was one of the best times, or down the coast to Tijuana; that was fun too. We found many places to go, things to do, and after a slow start, many great places to eat. We had family and friends visit too. Oh yeah, and I also proposed to my wife out here; LA will always be a special place to us. Will we return one day?
As we prepared to move and head back to Chicago, my fiancee and I were not in agreement; she was not too happy about leaving a place where her birthday could be celebrated in sandals vs a place which may require a winter coat. As the storage bins were stacked in our apartment, and we enjoyed a glass of wine the night before we headed out, we experienced one final earthquake; everything swayed from side to side. What does this mean? Is it time to go? Is it a sign to stay? Maybe it was just an earthquake…
We survived, and continue to survive, with the great time in LA always in our hearts. We added to those great times on this trip, one which my son will finally remember. It wasn’t his first visit to LA; I think it was his 3rd. The first came on his first trip ever on an airplane more than a decade ago. His most recent was maybe about 6 years ago… Now, at the age of 12, this one will sink in; how will he remember LA? Did he just visit his future school of UCLA for the first time? Maybe, maybe not. If I was taught anything from my first time around in LA, is that anything is possible. Assuming my son will go to college, his decision may guide our future decision; staying local, heading west, or any other direction within the US may influence our future… or maybe it won’t. For now, back to Chicago, again, and for my son, a few weeks out from starting 7th grade. Holding memories from the past close to our heart, enjoying every minute of the present, and looking forward to an exciting future… the beat goes on.
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