California Moment
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Since moving out here, Lisa & I occasionally come across what we call a "California Moment." This is usually a sight so stereotypically "California" it almost seems invented. Some examples of this are people doing yoga or tai chi in the park, people rollerblading in bathing suits, the inevitable naked guy at the protest march, mystical doings on the beach–– basically any combination of the earthy, hippie, crunchy, outdoorsy, eccentric, political, free-spirited and willfully peculiar behavior. You get the picture.
It has an almost disorienting effect when you experience more than one CM at the same time. As if you've entered a new reality where the unusual is commonplace.
Yesterday I was riding my trike around the Richmond marina (yes, we have a Richmond) and spotted my favorite ranger/park cop driving her electric cart on patrol. We smiled and waved like we always do and then I noticed she wasn't waving but steering with one hand and doing arm-curls with a purple dumbbell in the other.
This in itself would not constitute a California Moment but in the very next instant my eye was caught by some movement on a huge old tugboat I always assumed was abandoned. There, on the aft deck, on this California sun-shiny day, a massage therapist had set up her table and was giving a middle aged towel-clad man a massage.
As I was reporting the latest CM on the cellphone to Lisa I waved as another trike rider, we've chatted with in the past, rode by–– his little dog sitting in a basket behind him. It was the California Moment Tri-fecta!
And then it struck me: I'm the tan, blond guy with the iPod, riding the incredibly peculiar bike. How many California Moments have I completed without even being aware of it? In the future I might need to add something to complete the look. Perhaps some tie-dye or a funny hat. Hmmmm....
Since moving out here, Lisa & I occasionally come across what we call a "California Moment." This is usually a sight so stereotypically "California" it almost seems invented. Some examples of this are people doing yoga or tai chi in the park, people rollerblading in bathing suits, the inevitable naked guy at the protest march, mystical doings on the beach–– basically any combination of the earthy, hippie, crunchy, outdoorsy, eccentric, political, free-spirited and willfully peculiar behavior. You get the picture.
It has an almost disorienting effect when you experience more than one CM at the same time. As if you've entered a new reality where the unusual is commonplace.
Yesterday I was riding my trike around the Richmond marina (yes, we have a Richmond) and spotted my favorite ranger/park cop driving her electric cart on patrol. We smiled and waved like we always do and then I noticed she wasn't waving but steering with one hand and doing arm-curls with a purple dumbbell in the other.
This in itself would not constitute a California Moment but in the very next instant my eye was caught by some movement on a huge old tugboat I always assumed was abandoned. There, on the aft deck, on this California sun-shiny day, a massage therapist had set up her table and was giving a middle aged towel-clad man a massage.
As I was reporting the latest CM on the cellphone to Lisa I waved as another trike rider, we've chatted with in the past, rode by–– his little dog sitting in a basket behind him. It was the California Moment Tri-fecta!
And then it struck me: I'm the tan, blond guy with the iPod, riding the incredibly peculiar bike. How many California Moments have I completed without even being aware of it? In the future I might need to add something to complete the look. Perhaps some tie-dye or a funny hat. Hmmmm....
Comments
~~Doublesaj~~
I have EXACTLY what you need to complete your California look! I'll AQ-mail ya :)
I love the other "anonymous"'s idea of doing a book of California Moments...
of course, I live in Southern California!
Have fun....