It's Always Sunnier In California

Where do I begin to sum up the gratitude I feel now as I return from my trip to California. 

So much healing, so much closure, support and unconditional love.

My best friend Carrie who saw my pain, scooped me up w a plane tix and a place to stay. My eternal gratitude is with you I can't begin to say thank you enough, you helped me save my life. 

AI Weiwei for the inspiration and reminder that we all have voices, they need to be heard and respected. 

Rebecca Rosen for bringing for my Team Spirit, allowing my heart to beat again after the brokenness I felt from the loss of my Nana Dorothy and dog Lulu. Two major members of my Team Spirit, they confirm again the other side, the unconditional love and guidance we receive from it if we are open and do the work. 

My dear friend Moira who's spiritual wisdom and kindness never ceases to awe me. I thank you so much for your hospitality but than that your inspirational heart. 

Team LA, loves of my life my sister Brooke who is the original free spirit, David Jarrett who's laugh makes me smile more than most, the Laks' my extended family whom I would eat if possible all four of them, that's love. Shauna for growing up to be an insightful women, she reminds me to follow your dreams and if you wanna sleep in a loft in the ceiling or the floor of a closet to do it do it with joy and a giggle. 

Of course what a terrific reunion with Raerae who I consider my greatest accomplishment, she had the raw goods, now she's a powerhouse. Oakes and Soren, who's steadfastness is a force. America! America! Go West! 

Oh geez, I can't forget about my spiritual partner Mo. I'm one lucky human that I get this one in my life, he reminds me and challenges my mind with questions I would have never thought of myself. And he sits through all my insane stories w a calmness and an open mind. Thank you my friend. 

Kimzo, my beachy soul sister, who I've had the pleasure to watch her grow into a spiritual insightful woman who not only cracks me up with her genius-ness, inspires me with her creative soul and honest heart. 

Plus all kinds of new friends. 

Thank everyone for the inspiration and on my healing journey. 

As I touch down in Detroit I feel like I have closure and a new path. 

Here we go......

Beautiful urban farm we visited and ate the most incredible bfst. 

Good reminder from a new friends daughter. 

You Cannot Touch The Sky From Inside Yourself

My vacation to California has been one of healing. A lot of processing, understanding and bit by bit letting go what I can when it's available. 

It's hard to focus on your own issues when standing in front of the powerful AI Weiwei installation at Alcatraz Island, which brings up so many emotions while reminding you of those humans wrongfully inprisioned for speaking out again the heinous acts their government does to their people daily. We forget these people are alive and have voices that need to be heard. The power of Weiwei's art brought me to tears several times while visiting the island. It puts so much in perspective. 

But yet my healing is still my own healing and it doesn't hurt any less. 

Yesterday Carrie and I drove from Carmel to Big Sur to begin the final chapter in my healing journey, we stopped for breakfast at my favorite Big Sur Bakery, where we were greeted by an upbeat staff rocking out to The Allman Brothers on volume 11. An actual great way to begin the day plus perfect coffee and crossaints. 

We then made the scenic drive past Deetjens to Esalen Institute where I spent the next few hours soaking in the healing sulfer baths and receiving possibly the best massage of my life. 

Refreshed and ready for my next steps to "go forward" as told specifically by my spirit guides we drove to the Ragged Point Inn, what a view. Carrie took care of her work, while I found a spot to take care of mine. 

Overlooking a perfect point of the Pacfic Ocean I pulled from my purse the box that held the ring Joe had given to me a year ago on my birthday in Big Sur. A custom turquoise and silver piece, made with what I can only assume at the time was love. Looking at it now it no longer held sentimental value for me. There was no connection, just pain. I spoke out loud to the God of my understanding, asked for healing and forgiveness for my heart and my part in the broken relationship, prayed and threw it into the ocean. 

My circle was complete. 

This trip was my healing trip, to heal from loss, the loss of my Grandmother, the loss of my relationship and the loss of myself-who I misplaced during that time period. 

I do feel better. I don't feel 100% ready to open my heart to someone or trust again, but I know that I've made my peace with myself and that matters. 

1200 Miles - Part 1

In the midst of this past winter polar vortex my boyfriend Joe and I struggled to come up with a vacation we could take to get out of the midwest and see some better weather.  

We looked over every possible place people go, Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii, Greece, etc. After weeks of research and slight depression, we found we had either been there, were drawn to a place that was way to expensive (at least for my budget) or the destination seemed too pedestrian to put it mildly.  (As a newer Detroit transplant I learned that getting to anywhere interesting from Detroit is a complete pain in the ass and takes at least 3 flight changes). 

Finally we decided we would wait until May and celebrate my birthday by traveling to the west coast, a driving trip, seeing sights and visiting friends from LA (my hometown) up to Seattle (where Joe used to live/work in the grunge filled 90s). 

13 days of driving....aprox 1200+ miles with our detours

LOS ANGELES

Starting in LA we spent a few nights as guests of a friend, who was gracious and loaned us his early 1960 John Lautner designed house in the Hollywood Hills to set up camp.  Not a bad way to start, we spent our mornings watching the sunrise over the Griffith Observatory (a benefit of traveling backwards in time 3 hours), taking to his steam room, swimming and hiking in the hills surrounding the house.  Quick visits with close friends allowed us to eat at some new and old favs including Gracias Madre, Cafe Gratitude, El Coyote (which I didn't realize there was a boycott of until after I ate there, sorry), Cafe Habana Malibu (she owners who treated us very well, thank you again), The Ivy and Moon of Tunis.  We left LA tired, bellies full and happy to see so many people.  Oh if you haven't been to Gracias Madre, my little sister Devon gave me the best advise, which I didn't listen to but will pass on to you because she is correct, don't order everything, they serve a lot of food. You will fill up quickly.  It's true, we did, and then of course I heard that from four other people after the fact.  Gracias Madre is a good place for big groups too. 

(side note: if we didn't get to see you, I whole heartedly apologize, visiting LA is always difficult for me, trying to cram so many people into so few hours)

Oh LA, how do I sum up thee...at least to me.

The LA of my childhood is long gone, it makes me very sad, the replacement is not for me, although I do love your food, sadly there is no decent coffee, I'll miss your sunshine, spanish architecture and of course my friends.  

It will probably be a while until I see you again.

OJAI & RAGGED POINT

Moby suggested we stop in Ojai to check it out as Joe had never been and apparently there was a new vegan restaurant up there, so we made a short side trip on our ride up Highway 1 to Ojai. 

Quick stop in Ojai.  We drove along the main drag around 5pm on a Sunday afternoon, checked out some houses in the surrounding neighborhoods and pulled into Hip Vegan Cafe with 30 mins to spare.  I had eaten here a few years prior with my friend Myriam after a photo shoot on a horse ranch in the area.  They updated the inside of Hip Vegan, it's still tiny, I had the best sandwich ever, Ray's Ruben, don't ask, just order it, fantastic.  Joe's sandwich was good but less memorable than the ruben, he was trying to eat healthy, I gave that up when I saw Ray's Ruben description, I believe I saw him sulk slightly at his hippie sammy because mine was so terrific.  I like eating at Hip Vegan because the tables are communal outside and you sit under olive trees. Very pretty, very California hidden away community.  Everyone looked like they just left Coachella and came to Ojai for vegan food. Ojai reminds me of Palm Springs back when I was a kid minus the sprinkling of hipsters.  I still don't know which vegan place Moby was talking about in Ojai, but Hip Vegan is still the place for me. 

Once we left Ojai we began the long beautiful drive to Ragged Point, CA, just north of San Simeon where Hearst Castle stands.

Long drive....the sun was relentless, did I mention we are driving a convertible Chevy Camaro? 

It's easy to forget how incredible California is when you only drive the 10, 5 and 405 freeways.  If you haven't driven the 101 past Zuma in a while please do, it will remind you of how special the state of California is, plus it's nice and relaxing. 

Several hours later we made it to Hearst Castle only to be asked to leave by a stern park ranger.  Insert sad face..."rosebud"  

11 more miles and we checked in to The Ragged Point Inn.  

Now I highly recommend The Ragged Point Inn, the view and property are outstanding.  You can hike down the cliffs to the ocean, the rooms are a little sparse although they have electric fireplaces to keep you warm and that spectacular view.  The restaurant, eh, ok.  Nothing to write home about, we had dinner next to some very loud and opinionated South Africans, that was it. The next morning we had our first cup of decent good coffee at the coffee stand and got to speak with the lovely man that works there, I think his name was Rory, his daughter is Jena Malone, the actress.  We were going to stay in Ragged Point for two nights but discovered it was quite further than we thought from Big Sur so we packed it in and headed north on the 1....

View Of Downtown LA

Sunrise Over Griffith Observatory 

Joe at Hip Vegan Cafe in Ojai (notice olive trees in back of him)

View Outside Room at Ragged Point Inn

More Ragged Point View