The Beauty of Audacity

From an environmental standpoint Los Angeles simply shouldn't exist. There are far too many people to be supported by the annual precipitation of this semi-arid climate - let alone the endless green lawns and Beverly Hills gardens. So says Emma, a friend who visited from out of town. Given her credentials, a BS from MIT and a MS from Princeton in some sub-category of Environmental Sciences, I'm inclined to agree. But even she admitted "I really like it here. I will be coming back." I think she got caught up in what is truly beautiful about LA - the sheer audacity of it's existence and persistence.

What is perhaps most surprising to someone visiting LA is that it pretty much is everything it purports to be in films and television. The walk of fame, Mann's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, club goers, all-night diners, and rows of palm trees all exist and are readily accessible. It's a little surreal. Walking by these landmarks seen time and time again in fictional narratives can make it feel like you're floating through a storybook landscape.

Even seeing coked out hookers and tatooed gang members can be a reassuring experience - "Look ma! It's exactly like in the movies."

As I approach my one-year Los Angeles anniversary I'm so grateful to have friends visit. They help me to see this place with renewed awe and optimism. No matter how "bad" my days get, working for myself and being able to laze away a Sunday on the beach beats just about anything else out there.