City of Angels
“The apparent ease of California life is an illusion, and those who believe the illusion real live here in only the most temporary way.” Joan Dideon, The White Album
My childhood in LA was spent running through empty dirt fields littered with tumbleweeds and beer bottles. It was hot most of the time. I barely wore shoes or a shirt. Reprieve was found in a backyard pool or the Pacific Ocean, which would churn you around and spit you out if you weren’t careful.
The Santa Anas were an entity. Usually coming in Fall. A hot dry wind that shook everything. Rain happened, but not often. My memory of rain was lying on the sofa watching daytime TV. A forbidden activity in my household.
The four seasons of LA were drought, flood, wildfire, mudslide, and earthquake. Technically that’s five seasons but drought was pretty much a constant.
At this point, I have lived away from LA longer than I lived there. Yet, the feeling of taking sunshine for granted, hiking in the Santa Monica mountains, driving down PCH, and creativity everywhere is embedded in me. Landing at LAX is a big exhale. Even the traffic is, well, truly terrible, but it’s so LA, and LA is home.
These last two days have been unlike anything I have ever felt. Everybody I know is affected. Either evacuated, have lost their home, or are connected to people who lost their homes. The ferocity of the winds, the heat, and the drought created an inferno, stuff we thought was fiction is now fact.
Thankfully we have another 11 days of Joe Biden to provide compassion and aid.
There are many actions that we will need to take in the coming days, months, and years to help people rebuild and heal, to care for animals, and our earth. Here are a few that could use your support.
Please reach out to people you know in Los Angeles or who are connected to the City. People need to know they are cared for. With our love, energy, support, and kindness, residents of Los Angeles county will get through this. As Hillary Clinton so infamously said, we are stronger together.
Love and gratitude to you and the first responders doing the most heroic work.
:: Genessa
sending big love friend.