Finding Home...away from home
As I write this, Shawn, the kids, and I are in California. We're staying in a condo on Venice Beach with a direct view of the Pacific Ocean—our temporary home for the next few weeks. Shawn is here for work, and because the kids are out of school for the summer, we decided to take this trip as a family.
Airport at 5am.
Meeting the captain.
Already, so much has happened: the kids flew on a plane for the first time, got their "wings", and were invited into the cockpit. And then yesterday, we ventured down the boardwalk and happened upon a street performance by the Calypso Tumblers. Cate raised her hand and got picked to join them.
The other priority has been to settle into our space quickly, and make it feel as much like home as possible. We've stocked up on groceries and got a temporary gym membership. We make sure to run the vacuum and wipe down counters daily. We'll spend a lot of time here in the condo—playing, resting, and just hanging out.
This trip is significant for me because I used to want to live here, on the west coast and specifically in Los Angeles. This place once held the dreams of my younger 20-something self.
Last night, we had dinner in Santa Monica with one of Shawn's colleagues, who—in an instant—became our kids' new best friend. Highlights included pretending to be statues, eating frozen yogurt on the street, and adding heads to the mannequins at Old Navy.
In that moment, I was reminded of something important: Joy can be found all around—in the big adventures and in those everyday experiences you can do anywhere. The good stuff of life is found in relationships, and in those moments when we're able to be fully present.
Of course, we have a long list of touristy things we want to see and do while we're here: go to Disneyland, see the Hollywood sign and Walk of Fame, and visit the Anime Jungle toy store. (My son Blake tells me this place has Power Ranger action figures you can't get anywhere else.) I'm sure this trip will feel both long and quick, and I'm glad that Charleston will be waiting for us when we get back.
