Some Early Morning Thoughts
Driving up to Santa Cruz yesterday morning reminded me forcibly of the reasons I love this island so much.
I had woken to the sound of the waves lapping the tiny, pebble beach in front of my apartment. Early morning is definitely my favorite time of day here, maybe anywhere. The Autumn air was just slightly cool on my bed-warm skin, the ocean gently heaved and sighed, and the pinkness of the sunrise was seeping along the horizon.
I was on the road betimes in order to beat the hoards, so the journey was quiet, and driving was the pleasure I remember it being years ago before the island got so crowded. The mountains to my left were sharp and clear against the blue sky, and the ocean to my right was sparkling as the sun rose higher.
At times like these I wouldn't be anywhere else on earth. Sorry to say they are less and less, as the roads become choked. But I suppose that's the price we pay. Back when, there was no IKEA to go anyway, and it was impossible to find furnishings at a reasonable price, and which weren't the cookie cutter designs used in every apartment or house ever built here. And when you did shop because there was no competition, and no staff training the salespeople were disinterested or downright rude. IKEA was a model of friendliness and efficiency (which is high praise considering the stupidity and lack of manners of some of their clients!), so change isn't all bad. If I moved to one of the smaller islands, which I sometimes dream about, I wouldn't be able to get to IKEA or any major shops within an hour, it would be a ferry or plane journey.
Now to assemble all those bookshelves!
I had woken to the sound of the waves lapping the tiny, pebble beach in front of my apartment. Early morning is definitely my favorite time of day here, maybe anywhere. The Autumn air was just slightly cool on my bed-warm skin, the ocean gently heaved and sighed, and the pinkness of the sunrise was seeping along the horizon.
I was on the road betimes in order to beat the hoards, so the journey was quiet, and driving was the pleasure I remember it being years ago before the island got so crowded. The mountains to my left were sharp and clear against the blue sky, and the ocean to my right was sparkling as the sun rose higher.
At times like these I wouldn't be anywhere else on earth. Sorry to say they are less and less, as the roads become choked. But I suppose that's the price we pay. Back when, there was no IKEA to go anyway, and it was impossible to find furnishings at a reasonable price, and which weren't the cookie cutter designs used in every apartment or house ever built here. And when you did shop because there was no competition, and no staff training the salespeople were disinterested or downright rude. IKEA was a model of friendliness and efficiency (which is high praise considering the stupidity and lack of manners of some of their clients!), so change isn't all bad. If I moved to one of the smaller islands, which I sometimes dream about, I wouldn't be able to get to IKEA or any major shops within an hour, it would be a ferry or plane journey.
Now to assemble all those bookshelves!