The weather was perfect, the sun was low in the sky, ready to set. My friends and I had set up our blankets, bought our wine, made vodka “sangria” and all gathered on Santa Monica beach, right south of the pier to see the first of the summer concert series on the pier. The beach was packed. Little kids to old couples all gathered to enjoy a perfect southern California evening.
When I got there I went and bought some more wine. I crossed the pier and found a booth where the “Surf Rider Foundation” was raffling off a brand new beach cruiser. I told myself I should buy a ticket, walked off and bought two bottles of overpriced wine and walked back to the beach. A little while later, I remembered the bike and told my friend Diana and her friend Frank, I have to go buy raffles tickets because I was going to win the bike. They laughed, and I ran off, buying ten of them for twenty bucks. The guy who sold them to me wished me luck, I told him I did not need it, I was going to win the bike tonight. By the time I came back down, almost everyone had arrived and the music started. We had great conversations, met cool new people, and drank a whole lot. I am not sure if we actually listened to the music, but I do know it was a night that made me truly fall for California.
My friend Ruben’s girlfriend, Bridget and I were sitting talking, and we both looked out at the beach, saw how happy everyone was and felt so happy ourselves, it made us both sit back and truly accept how wonderful it was that we were there at that moment. I guess you could say it was that moment I realized how happy I am to be here in Los Angeles. It has been only three months, but I finally felt at peace with my choice to come here, and it was an eye opening experience.
As the concert went on, we all kept partying, dancing and laughing. The concert ended, and my phone rang. “Hello”, I said. “Alex?”, said the person on the phone, “Where the hell are you? You won the bike!” I yelled, “Holy Shit, I won the bike!” and ran off, up the stairs and claimed my prize. When I got there the guy at the booth went, “Yo dude, you’re the guy who said he was going to win the bike!” I probably could not be happier. I picked up my bike, and ran back down to the beach, cheers from everyone I was with, and then, I had to ride it to my car. It is sitting in my dining room now.. waiting for the Fourth of July where I am joining my friends to ride around town in Venice and go to some parties.
The rest of the weekend was just as great, Friday night I went out with Bridget and her friends, then Ruben joined us, and we had a great night, especially because I saw what is probably the greatest pornographic painting known to man. Saturday I was in Hollywood seeing my co-workers band for his friend’s 30th birthday and Sunday I spent it at my pool and then in Venice at the “Beer Garden” and O’Brian’s..
I know all my weekends can’t be like this one, but I’ll tell you this, if only a few are I will be content.
{ 0 comments… add one now }