I’m about to embark on a new chapter in my life – relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. This holiday season marks the end of my residential time in Los Angeles.
I moved to L.A. from Texas… a few years after I finished my Master’s degree. (Yeah, let’s not count the actual number of years.) I moved to the Los Feliz area, just at the east end of “Hollywood”, up on the slopes near the Griffith Observatory. Although there wasn’t much of a view of the LA Basin from my street, just north of it there was a subdivision of expensive houses that really had a view. During all the years I lived there, I’d often drive up to that neighborhood for the view. I’d even dream about owning one of the houses there, just for the view.
Today, after I’d had a nice Christmas meal, I suddenly decided to visit the view one more time. I got there just at dusk, but there was a smoky covering over the city. Still, it was catching a bit of the pink light of sunset.
The security patrol that circles the neighborhood, stopped to check me out, since I was stopped at the curb with my car lights on. I explained that I used to live in the neighborhood down the hill, and liked to come up to that spot for the view, and that since I was moving to Vegas shortly, this was sort of a “good-bye.” He understood that. He said that the weather is supposed to be clearer on Wednesday, if I still wanted to see the full, glittering sight of the city.
I got a little emotional when I started to explain why I was there. Even though I’ve come to feel that this move to Las Vegas is indeed the right thing for me, and that it is indeed the time for me to “let go” of LA, I didn’t expect to tear up a bit as I explained to a stranger that I am leaving Los Angeles. Because of that, it struck me as very fitting that I’d come to this favorite spot. It’s good to make a “good-bye.”
I moved on, and caught just a bit of the sunset left in the western sky.
I just missed catching the more intense colors in my camera. I’m going to have to practice that a bit more, I think.
Then, as I was about to head down the hill, I remembered the sight of the Observatory from the neighborhood.
In the last tones of dusk, the Observatory glows over the neighborhood.
Of course, I then drove back to where I’m currently staying — freeway traffic, and plenty of autos on the streets. The city is always in motion. I think I’ve gotten over finding that appealing, and am now ready for a quieter setting.
I’m hoping that in Las Vegas, I won’t be so constantly in survival mode, and will be able to get more of my own work done.
