I, too, am a SoCal native. Every year we would drive to the mountains, the nearby mountains and the soaring Sierra Nevada.
Years later, I visited my future husband in New York state. I was picked up in NYC by him and his father. They told me we would go through the mountains to get to their hometown in Upstate New York. It was late December and we drove and drove for hours through a black and white landscape. I kept watching for the mountains. Finally from the backseat I asked, "When are we going to get to the mountains?"
"What? Are you kidding? We passed those two hours ago."
"Sorry, I never saw anything that resembled mountains to me." I had the distinct impression they thought I was being snarky.
Mountains are a grounding point for me as well. Saddleback is only about 5400 ft and to our east, but I find I look to it every day to make sure everything is right with the world. Unusually, at present, it actually has snow on it. That feels like a good omen to me, here in this arid place. Oh, and, your San Gabriels also are sporting their December mantle. Another touchstone for making sure that this year we may have enough water and cool green forests to explore.
Years later, I visited my future husband in New York state. I was picked up in NYC by him and his father. They told me we would go through the mountains to get to their hometown in Upstate New York. It was late December and we drove and drove for hours through a black and white landscape. I kept watching for the mountains. Finally from the backseat I asked, "When are we going to get to the mountains?"
"What? Are you kidding? We passed those two hours ago."
"Sorry, I never saw anything that resembled mountains to me." I had the distinct impression they thought I was being snarky.
Mountains are a grounding point for me as well. Saddleback is only about 5400 ft and to our east, but I find I look to it every day to make sure everything is right with the world. Unusually, at present, it actually has snow on it. That feels like a good omen to me, here in this arid place. Oh, and, your San Gabriels also are sporting their December mantle. Another touchstone for making sure that this year we may have enough water and cool green forests to explore.
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