California Dreaming: A Double Shot of Fun

My very first trip to California happened in 2006, the week after my high school graduation. This trip would also serve as the first time I rode on a plane. I was a virgin flyer and the first excursion would be a five hour plane ride, nice! Or not. I think my stomach was returned to me after the first two hours. And three hours later I was in San Diego, CA. Every time someone asks, how was it there? I say, clean. Because it was. No random trash in the gutter, grass trimmed, just perfect. And the food was on point. No shade to Denny's in Maryland, but I had the best 'Superbird' sandwich in San Diego. We ventured to Los Angeles to shop. I loved the unique sense of style there. Shopping in LA was like finding an exclusive boutique in Baltimore that no one has heard of. The most inspirational moment of this trip was taking the bus from LA to Tijuana, Mexico. There was this family of three, who only had a cardboard box to call their home. A mother and her two girls sat on the box in the blazing sun making bracelets for money. It wasn't the mere picture of their grind in the midst of their homelessness, it was how humble they were. They were so kind, even down to the children, who looked as if they hadn't bathed in weeks. I had a huge frog in my throat seeing their living condition. So we decided to just give the money and let them have their bracelets to continue their sales. The mother took the money, nodded and smiled. It was a beautiful moment. San Diego was beautiful and although at the time I was not legal to experience the night life, it was well worth my trip. Now on to my second trip. Five years later I returned to Cali, this time my first stop was Huntington Beach, California. My cousin just recently moved there with a friend. My perception of California had matured and I was open to explore. My cousin convinced me to come on the weekend of St. Patricks Day to bar-hop. Downtown Huntington Beach put on a show for us. We went to a Lingerie bar, sports bar, and this club that was more like a rave. All of the music was techno and I was so distracted by the dancing that all I could do was just stand there. It was quite the atmosphere to take in. The night was undeniably young and St. Patty's Day showed me a good time.

The next day I explored Hollywood. I saw Jamie Foxx, Michael Myers, Chucky and Michael Jackson. Okay not really, but really. These celebrities consisted of wax figures and impersonators. Lol. Of course this was more so a tourist spot, but it felt so free. Everyone there was privileged to take a piece of Hollywood home with them. My last day, I had the best California pizza. Like melt in your mouth pizza. Bread covered in cheese with little dots of sauce on top. Delicious! But that wasn't enough. I couldn't leave without going to the infamous Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in Long Beach, California. I left there feeling like an inflated balloon, but in a good way. Lol. California and it's diversity on both trips were fulfilling. You don't have to find a way to blend, you just belong. It was more than a dream, it was a mind-blowing experience. Will my third time be the charm?