This week

It's been cool, cozy, and cloudy in LA this week. So much so that when I left the apartment this morning, I actually recognized that the sun was shining. Sadly, the continuous sunshine can get a bit old, and it's nice to have the variety. And because of that statement, I now have no friends east of Denver. And we wonder why Angelenos are so self-centered. We are spoiled in every possible sense, even in the weather.

Another delight of this week is the return of what I call the "purple carpet trees." I don't know their actual name, and even if I did, I would prefer my own title. The purple carpet trees have these beautiful periwinkle purple little blooms and when they are done blooming, they drop onto the ground right below the tree such that the ground looks like it's covered in purple carpet. My roommate has a photograph of the blooms on asphalt which I simply must enlarge and put on a wall. I love the trees that much. It's a remnant of spring in this endless summer place, so I hold onto it. And in a city which survives on asphalt the way that we survive on blood in our veins, it's nice to see a simple, beautiful piece of nature, and purple at that, covering up the gray. Maybe I'm attracted to the seeming defiance of the purple carpet trees--in spite of traffic on endless mazes of streets, in spite of endless summer, in spite of our inability to slow down, we will bring temporary beauty to cover over the junk that lands in the gutter and take your breath away, even if for only a moment. And in that, I am reminded that in spring, life is new, and that beauty can be temporary, so squeeze it until it is bone dry.

This past Sunday was also Big Sunday, which is a city-wide volunteer day, which I was on the steering committee for last year. Last year there were over 300 projects and 50,000 volunteers. This year, I wasn't able to participate as fully, and wasn't sure how I wanted to participate at all. I ended up helping my steering committee friends from last year on the events that they helped plan. So I assisted with a "BasketballFest" (right next to "SoccerFest") and got to see BJ Armstrong, former Chicago Bull, up close.

I've also realized this week that Mother's Day is looming in a few days. I see the flowers and cards and balloons and advertisements everywhere. I know it's coming. But I'm not really preparing, if that could even really be done. I figure it will be a hard day and that I'll plan to be with friends and I'll deal with stuff as it comes up.

My dad goes on a Mediterranean cruise tomorrow. I'm so proud of him, of who he's become in the wake of all this. He was saying it's been a year exactly since their last big trip--they came out for my grad school graduation, which coincided with Mother's Day, and they went on a Mexican riviera cruise. So the preparations (which mom would typically take care of) have been difficult. But he's going. He's seeing Rome and Istanbul and Athens. And I'm jealous. Ha! Some day.

I've realized I am in a great mood and have a great day when I brainstorm and day dream about nice things to do for other people, which is what I think I'm going to do tonight. Yay!