I wrote this a while back on an old blog, but I wanted to re-post for all the newer readers. This was one of the greatest times of my life...
On Friday, February 13, 2009, I boarded a plane to Los Angeles, CA. I was so nervous that my heart was beating out of my chest, and I just wanted to snap my fingers and be in LA. Well, about 6 hours later, I was.As I walked out of LAX and saw LA for the first time, I was pretty speechless. I caught the shuttle to get a rental car, and then chased the sun. I was trying to make it to Santa Monica to watch my first Pacific sunset, but I only made it to Venice Beach.
I ran out to the beach with my camera and started snapping away. Then, ran back to the car, and headed to Santa Monica.
I absolutely fell in LOVE with the Santa Monica Pier!!!!! Really, I just can't tell you how awesome that was! It was pretty deserted because it was almost dark and had rained earlier in the day.
Just as I started walking down the pier, I heard Coldplay's "The Scientist" floating in the ocean breeze...seriously. This moment probably couldn't have been anymore perfect.
As I got closer, it was street musician, James Valenti (I highly recommend you look him up at www.myspace.com/jamesvalentimusic). He was AWESOME!
So, after that, he played Jason Mraz "I'm Yours". Music + the ocean = happiness. haha.
After I soaked in Santa Monica, I took off down Santa Monica Blvd through Beverly Hills (which wasn't exactly what I'd expected, then I made it to HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!
I parked at the Kodak Theater and walked through all of the stars on the walk, and got my photo taken by The Doors' star, and with Clint Eastwood and Tom Hank's signatures in the cement. :) NICE.
They were setting everything up for the Oscars, so it was amazing out in front of the Kodak.
I had dinner at a strange little place there called uWink. That was interesting. Then, it was off to buy postcards and your normal tourist stuff. I couldn't help it. :)
I walked around the corner from the restaurant, and there was the Hollywood sign. So weird to be there.
After all of that, I finally made my way to my hotel in Long Beach. On the way, I passed the Queen Mary. I had no idea it was that huge!!
So, for the super life-changing experience:
Most of you know about my "freedom hat". It is my brown trucker hat that I bought right before I went to Miami/Key West back in 2005. Well, oddly enough, the hat says "Laguna Beach" on it. This didn't mean anything to me when I bought it because I never imagined I would ever actually be there. I simply bought it because it was a brown trucker hat...um..that was the defiance in me. haha.
Well, I got surprised last night. I actually had the extra time to drive the 47 miles or so to Laguna Beach. I wasn't supposed to get to see it until next month, but hey, if you are that close, and you have time, just go, right?
I packed a towel, my hat, my sunglasses, my ipod, and my camera and took off.
I got there in PLENTY of time to enjoy it and then watch the sunset.
Something about me: I've always had a sort of "Life List". Well, back in 2005, I was sitting in my beautiful apartment in downtown Tifton listening to music, and just randomly said, "One day, I'm going to stand in the Pacific Ocean and watch the sunset." Apparently, you really should be careful what you wish for because I did just that!
I took a look at the cliffs, rocks, and crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, and immediately teared up. It was the most beautiful thing.
I took off my shoes, put on my hat, and took off straight for the water (which was SO cold).
Then, I walked around all of the rocks and just soaked it all in while the sun slowly melted in to the horizon. I just stood there on top of these massive rocks watching each wave crash, and just thought, "I made it." How crazy!
All I could do was think about everything I've done in the past five years, and how all of this is probably never going to sink in. It was pretty much the same feeling I had when I met Coldplay, only this time, I cried. haha.
As the sun finally left, I took my hat off, and dipped it into the ocean. For some reason, I had this crazy urge to just throw it out as far as possible, but I just couldn't bring myself to do that.
I got back up to the car, and rolled up my jeans, put a towel in the car, and headed back to Long Beach. Well, when I made it back to my hotel, I went to get all of my stuff out, and realized that my hat was still in Laguna Beach. Immediately the symbolism made me tear up again. I do believe, that was God's way of telling me, "It's over. It's all over. You made it, and you are ok."
That hat certainly did it's job, and now it has come full circle and is home where it belongs.
I hope some girl finds that hat, picks it up, and lets it bring her all of the blessings it brought me. I can't tell you how free I feel. I can't explain how significant it is that the hat is now in Laguna Beach. That's a sign if I've ever seen one!
