things about la that remind me i'm home
The stretch of the 134 right past Eagle Rock at sunset
The way the palm trees line Doheny as I drive home
The way Overland slopes down toward Olympic
The trees with the low branches along Ocean Ave that I used to climb
The greyhound at Bar Flores
The paloma at Melrose Umbrella
A cold glass of white wine in a tall glass
The smell of Nag Champra in any room of any home
55 Monterey Lane. Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Driving up Mountain Trail from Orange Grove
The way the Reservoir shimmers under the 5pm sun
When Bird and I get coffee on Sundays
When Venice Blvd started to sprawl as you drive toward the ocean
The breeze that blew in through the window at Manning and how the morning sun felt warmer there
4617 Via Dolce being the best place for a nap
Passing the J in the white Mercedes
Tapas night and homemade margaritas
The way Washington Blvd looks at sunset
The lights that twinkle on Main Street and the trees that hang over the corner of Ashland and Main
Altadena Drive
When the ocean feels warmer than the air outside at dusk
Camping and all who know what that word means to me
When Emily and Annie are at the beach with me
When the sand feels cold and warm at the same time
Shivering in a hoodie on the beach on a fall evening
Outpost Drive
Vermont, near Skylight Books
Laurel Canyon, and the smell of strong coffee on a warm Sunday
Christmas Tree Lane
Will Rogers Beach at 5pm
A long dinner table with expensive wine
The Last Bookstore
When N Flores meets Oakwood
The warm lights of 615 N Flores and the smell of Bird’s soup
Annie in my bed after a long night
Mount Wilson
Fern Dell Trail
The Greek Theater
The card game Slam
Beverly Blvd with no traffic
Driving Sunset Blvd to the PCH
The stacked houses of Silverlake
The coastline view from the picnic table at El Capitan
Pasadena neighborhoods
The South Pasadena Farmers Market and a bag of cherries
An iced americano and the warm sun on my face at the same time
When the coastline turns inward as you drive toward San Francisco
When my mom’s family is in one room
Microwaved nachos
A cold margarita, no salt - on the rocks
The Santa Ana winds
When I can’t feel my face in the ocean air
Hollywood Blvd when you take a right down La Brea
The Annenberg Space for Photography
The Hammer
MOCA
The Gold Line
The Laemmle in Pasaena
The phrase “let’s get dinner”
The way the Pacific Ocean feels like a familiar hug
How cold the ocean is
When you walk down the sidewalk and it smells like jasmine
A sycamore tree
Oranges
Olive trees
The drive to Circle B Ranch
The Ventura coastline
The mustard plants along the Carpinteria hills
Laughing at a dinner in a home of someone I love
Toasting drinks on a warm patio
Chan Chan by Buena Vista Social Club
The way the hills sprawl with green after it rains
Sunflowers and nectarines