It's Not Always Easy to Fold
Sitting in Lot 44, a new coffee shop located at 3rd and Spring, waiting to head over to the Grand Opening celebration for Origami next door, I gaze at the clean and modern interior of the store that echoes the lines at the bar, creating an interesting and absorbing atmosphere. I have to say that the development in the Historic Core area is amazing and who would have guessed that an atrium was in place behind the shop? Last time that I was here, this entire area was glass and dust! As I sit writing this entry on my phone sipping my Tanzania peaberry latte, I can't help but think how LA I've become.
The citrus notes of the steaming coffee slide over my tongue as I stare out at the street waiting for Scott to arrive. The nights are getting chilly here, but the coffee makes things a little better. I can hear the sounds of music from next door sneak in under the CD playing Corrine Bailey Ray and I reminisce on how I could never have imagined that I'd be in this position while I was in high school.
Transitioning to life in Los Angeles has been exciting and certainly eye-opening. There are so many things to experience here and there's always something new right around the corner. Lately, with the rise of the Nokia Theater, there's been a huge revitalization effort in Downtown and I love it. Next door a bakery is set to open and a falafel joint is gaining steam a few blocks down. Scott arrives and after a quick chat with the employees at the coffee shop, we are on our way.
Stepping inside, I ignore the ill-fitting mylar balloons that frame the entrance and see a carefully constructed atmosphere.
Four drinks, five plates, and three hours later...
I'm sitting at the bar as the girl across the counter gives me a quizzical look. "Diet Coke?" she says as I nod in agreement. It's nearly time to go home and although the open bar is closing, I can't have another drink lest I pass out or attempt to drive home. The crowd is dying down and people are heading back their lives in the busy world outside of the restaurant, but I am content to sit on the soft bar stool and commiserate with Scott and Chrissy, the bartender. It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to talk to someone and conversing with Scott always clears my head and puts me at ease. Maybe the alcohol had a greater effect than I realized, but sitting there I came to the conclusion that despite all of the stress, life was good. I might not be totally in control of my life yet, but I'm learning to accept this fact with grace and not resignation. Minutes pass as a baseball game wraps up on the nearby television screen; the food has finally settled and as it grows later, I become increasingly jealous of the peole who can simply go upstairs and go to bed.
Good-byes are said and I can hear the crisp click of my shoes on the wood floor as I head toward the elevator. Peeking over my shoulder, I can see the atrium below, which was filled with people just a few hours prior. I take a breath and hit the button to call the elevator. Before I know it, I can see myself pushing open the glass doors to the building and stepping back out into the world and back into my life. Late night Downtown residents are still gathered outside of the restaurant and I hear snippets of conversation about karaoke nearby. Smells of sauces mingle with heat and old perfume as I make my past the door and back to my car.
The night outside is dark and clear--if it were not for the ever-present lights of the city, I would be able to see the stars overhead. The car is warm compared to the chill of the air outside and I sit still watching my breaths create patterns on the windshield. Ebbing and flowing, white clouds appear and slowly fade into the street before me. Breathe in. And out. I savor the memories from the night before packing them away where they belong.
Walking around today, I felt the familiar urge to move into the city and to be able to experience all of these things every day. I know that life isn't just about dining out and being glamourous, but there's a certain aspect of it that appeals to me and my young modern lifestyle. I though about a post that a coworker made a little while ago concerning hometowns and I have to say that my whole point about moving to a new city is supported by how I feel now. Even if I were to go back and spend the rest of my days in Hawaii, I would still have all of my memories from my time in Los Angeles and I can't help but think that those experiences give me perspective.
Maybe Scott was right and I have to take the advice that I give to my applicants. I need to put everything out there and not be so afraid of being raw and exposed. Maybe it's one of those cases where both of us have the ability to see something that the other just can't. The city has a lot to offer if I let it and although growing up, growing old, and growth in general are scary, through it all I'm slowly becoming more like the person that I've always hoped to be. And that's worth any amount of discomfort.