Peace & Love Everyone.
It has been 20 years since I was in Los Angeles, CA. I originally went to LA to attend the University of Southern California. I fell in love with LA, so I stayed. When things didn’t workout, I returned to New York. I had always planned to visit but never did until this summer.
It was great seeing my friends after all these years. I kept in touch with many through FB and my best friend and I spoke several times during the year. But nothing is like seeing each other face to face.
As I set foot on campus again, I remember my first time there. I had just driven by my first home in LA. I was Fresh out of high school, 18 and naive. I knew little of the world back then. I had led a sheltered life before I was on my own as my parents were determined to shelter me from the world. I made a lot of mistakes making decisions on my own with little guidance and few I confided my deepest thoughts and desires. Time cannot be rewound and all I can do as I walk campus is relish the memories and the lessons learned. Hoping to help my children not be so naive with their view of the world.
Campus had changed so much. Still, I could find my way around, even with all the new buildings. I found my way to Bovard Auditorium passing Tommy Trojan. I remembered the only Evening of Soul performance I participated in. I believe ‘I Want Your Sex’ by George Michael was the popular song that year. Not the 1 we preformed to of course.
As much as things changed they really didn’t. Few people on campus looked like me with exception to the staff. I got looks from staff and students. Few were friendly, except the supervisor at the bookstore who greeted me and asked if she could help. I let her know I was an alumni just adsorbing the changes and she told me what the campus looked like when she came to work there. Some of the student staff were also nice.
As I walked back to my parked car I remembered the fun and excitement on campus when 1 of our students won the olympic gold medal in track. Many of the football team players that I partied with went on to play professional football and moved on with their lives. Other film students have gone on to be well known actors and directors. I remember them all.
The next day before I left, I past by my old apartment where I lived with my husband. The same place I brought my new born son. Wow, the neighborhood has changed. I wasn’t surprised it had changed just how it had. Where my favorite El Pollo Loco was now stood a Chik-fil-a and a Starbucks. There was now a bank and an outdoor mall by the Galleria Mall. What 20 years can do.
As my plane finally left LAX I was very happy that I came back and would make a point not to take so long before I visited again. I would also make a point to keep in better touch with the friends who are basically family to me.
Make sure to check back next week. I’m working on a short story for you all.
LeticiaEdghill 