Livin’ on the Left

Life is filled with little pleasures. These pleasures come in all shapes and sizes, some a tiny blip on the radar screen and others a bit more significant. Recently I enjoyed a "more significant" little pleasure with my good friends Mark and Amy Stubblefield as we shared a long weekend in California.

Under the auspices of a working trip to the "Eureka" state, Mark, Amy, and I made the most of our California stay. Following the completion of our primary responsibilities, the two newlyweds and I headed north for a much-anticipated return visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (Mark and I toured the Library and Museum in 2005 with Caleb Hayden, but this was Amy’s first visit). Since our last rendezvous with Reagan history, the Library/Museum had completed its new Air Force One Wing and installed President Reagan’s Air Force One as the main attraction. The three of us boarded the plane for a first-hand view of the long-time presidential transport, pausing long enough for an "official" photograph in the plane’s entryway (for which we gullibly, but happily, paid $15.00 per photo). I must confess that my expectation for grandeur and glamor was rather more than reality granted me. It seems that the vision of Air Force One I have carried in my mind’s eye was based upon the upgraded 747 edition commissioned by President George Bush in 1990. President Reagan’s Air Force One was a 707 and fitted for functionality rather than plush working/relaxing conditions (although travel comfort and a general air of presidential prestige were far from missing onboard the 707). Nevertheless, our brief "tour" of President Reagan’s jet was a genuine treat and a highlight of our California trip.

After our several-hour tour of the Library and Museum, we departed Simi Valley and journeyed down Route 1 toward Los Angeles. What a drive! With the blue Pacific on our right and mountains to our left, we blissfully meandered our way down the coast. The weather could not have been more perfect, nor the views more sublime. Despite the constant urge to park our car and become one with the scenery, we limited our stops to one brief excursion across a rocky outcrop of coastline. Sea breeze and summer sun joined their wily forces to coax us down the rocks and close to the ocean. Braving the difficult descent (Hey, I was wearing sandals!), we soon reached a better vantage point and enjoyed a few minutes of photos, soaking in the fleeting moments of California utopia (utopia only to the visitor, mind you). Leaving this summer wonderland, we returned to our car and continued our Route 1 journey.

As the day turned into night, Mark, Amy, and I decided to find a hotel near the beach, planning to go for an early morning swim the next day. Our quest proved rather adventurous as we unsuccessfully sought after a cost-efficient, one-night housing arrangement. We finally settled upon the cheapest option available, a Holiday Inn in Redondo Beach (actually a very comfortable and professionally maintained establishment). After checking into our hotel rooms around 10:00 p.m., we ventured out to procure a long overdue dinner. Regrettably, Redondo Beach was quite lacking in the I-know-it-is-safe-because-I-have eaten-there-before chain restaurants, and the local shops were closed for the night. We finally found a 24-Hour Denny’s and assuaged our famished stomachs with its slightly suspect fare.

Morning brought with it a trip to the beach and an hour+ of body surfing the Pacific Ocean. Once we acclimated ourselves to the water, the swim became quite pleasant and well nigh exhilarating. The only drawback was a disgusting amount of slimy seaweed continually brushing against us and leading to all manner of odd contortions and startled exclamations. Despite this annoyance, all parties agreed the Pacific swim was a grand success and well worth the previous night’s expense.

Thus ended our left coast livin’. We packed up our luggage and headed off to LAX and our respective flights to our respective homes, looking forward to the next time our lives cross paths in California or elsewhere.

Yours truly is most grateful to have spent such a wonderful weekend with much beloved friends, and I can without hesitation report that the normative state agrees most heartily with both Mark and Amy. :) Following is a selection of photos taken during our trip that will hopefully shed some additional light upon our exploits.