My June 2013 came and went unlike any month I've known. People often ask me if I like living in LA. While I appreciate the question, I hesitate to give an answer. It's like asking someone to rate a five course meal, when they've only set eyes on the appetizer. In my case, I'm dealing with the entertainment capital of the world. More than 300 museums (if you know me, then you know this makes me happy). 113 Accredited colleges and universities. 75 miles of beach. 9.8 million people (in LA County). * So, for now, when people ask: "How do you like LA?" I tell them it's too early to give an honest answer.
However, it is NOT too early to report that I'm infatuated with the sun. Sunshine was a rare commodity in good old Bellingham. Here, you get the sun EVERY SINGLE DAY. When I lived in Ephrata, I enjoyed rain (except when we had hay in the wind row. I wasn't allowed to like it then!). Yet, there was always a definitive beginning and end to it and the sun usually came out afterwards. The air smelled like fresh soil, the land calm and new. My love for rain diminished when I started college in Bellingham. If it wasn't raining, it was gray. And if it wasn't gray, it was sunny but humid. Rain no longer became a peaceful experience that evoked a sense of cleansing and solitude. On Thursday, for the first time since I have been here, it rained. It was a lovely reunion.
Observations
Every day brings something new for Zach and me. We recently became California drivers. I was intimidated by the written driving test. I have horrid memories of taking that test in Ephrata when in high school. Nicole (my sister) probably remembers it well, as she had to take me to my test three times. :) If you think the DMV is bad wherever you live, it is nothing compared to the DMV in L.A. The wait time for those who don't make an appointment: 4-5 hours. For those who do: 2-3. Thankfully, we both passed on our first try and got that hectic experience out of the way. The pictures on our new licenses look pretty good, too!
We haven't yet explored Glendale to its full potential. But, we're adjusting at our own pace. This is the biggest change for me since my transition into college. I'm relearning what it's like to welcome and accept all this "newness" into my life.
Holidays away from home are always bittersweet. We missed our families on the Fourth of July. This year, I was thankful for Skype and my cellphone. We still managed to have a great time, though. Our friend, Eric, took us to the famous El Capitan Theater in Hollywood to watch Monsters University. You should read about the theater on Wikipedia (a reliable source for this sort of thing): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Capitan_Theatre
The colors and architecture made me feel like I was in Singin' in the Rain....If you were here with me now, I'd bust out my Lina Lamont impression. I think you'd laugh. Zach always does.
Sometimes, when change is overwhelming, a delicious cupcake can make your day. Our Fourth of July also included a trip to the famous Sprinkles Cupcakes.
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Being new can be lonely. Naturally, we miss our families, friends and community in Washington. We had a great visit from the Sims family - friends from our old church, Hillcrest Chapel, in Bellingham. They stopped by Glendale for dinner one Sunday night. They are taking a fun, summer road trip and made the time for us!
New things are sometimes familiar things. We found a new church! http://www.churchinhollywood.com/ We've only been for four Sundays, but already know that it is a community we want to join. I'm relieved but anxious all at the same time. Starting from scratch at a new church has never been easy for me.
It's been fun to spend more time with my childhood friend, Mary (Mera). We've been through many things together that have bound us for life: Bus 9, our role as angels in the church Christmas pageant, Indoor Air Quality. We probably haven't seen each other this frequently since high school! We went shopping at the Americana and Galleria in Glendale yesterday.
You might recall that I have a new job! It's been a challenge in some ways, but a blessing to have gotten it so soon after moving here. Here are some things I like about it:
-Walking to work in the mornings. It's peaceful. I see kids getting dropped off at the YMCA for the summer program. I watch people enter and exit coffee shops. I see the occasional biker, and wonder if I'll ever get brave enough to ride my bike in the city.
-The views. The above, top picture is the view from our break room. Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea.
-The fancy espresso machine in our break room. When the craving for a decaf honey latte strikes, I can get a pretty good one with the press of a button.
- The Farmer's Market that sets up just down the road from my office (and our apartment for that matter) every Thursday.
- My hour-long lunch. I used to take a 30 minute lunch at my job in Washington, so I'm learning how to enjoy a more leisurely lunch hour. Pictured above is the shady spot in between two buildings where I like to eat every day.
When new things plant themselves in my life, they always grow my faith, my perspective and my confidence. I'm never the same. And that is a good thing. Last week I read Psalm 61:2...
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
My mind comes back to this lately, as sometimes the "new" becomes too much.
You may be wondering, "What about Zach?" He's doing well. He is making good connections, doing lots of homework and interacting with film fanatics like himself. He's looking for a job (preferably in the film industry), so please pray for opportunities to come up.
I'm thinking I will post on this blog once a month. Even I can't wait to see what the next post will contain!
*Source: http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/
