I Miss the Trees

Play my song as you read

2023 March 16th - I miss the trees

Sometimes I forget that I've moved to LA. I'm cooped up in my apartment more than I'd like to admit, and since I've got no furniture other than a bed, I'm pretty much entirely bed-ridden. And the inside of an apartment here could be the inside of an apartment anywhere.

Went for a walk yesterday, saw a bunch of people walking their dogs, and a bunch of cars trying to sneak past red lights. I was walking without a purpose really. I had spent the past 18 hours in bed or on the computer, so I desperately needed to be outside. I saw this tree-lined street out of the corner of my eye and went out of my way to cross the street and turn onto it.

And it was glorious. As soon as I got under those canopies, I felt better.

I mean, come on. This view is ridiculous.

I'm from New Jersey, originally - born and raised on the East Coast. I went to college in Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley.

I like trees.

Something about them makes me relax. When I think of other times and places I've been, the nature sticks out to me the most. I spent a summer in rural Maine, working as a camp counselor, and when I'd get a day off I'd hitch a ride to town and spend the whole day outside, wandering around. When the sun would start to set I'd walk the seven miles back to camp, and everyone thought I was crazy. They were nice enough about it, but I could see they didn't understand why anyone would subjugate themselves to that.

Walking those seven miles up the mountain, as the sun turned golden, was incredible. I miss it, to this day. At a certain point, at the top of the mountain, there was this open field where some properties had been erected, and you could see the mountains and the valley beneath you, and these massive oaks held up the sky above you and let the setting sun shine upon your path as you walked.

And I know I'm waxing poetic but man that was everything. I lived for those walks.

Walking here isn't quite the same. There are beautiful places in LA for sure, but a lot of the times, in the neighborhood I'm living, I go outside and all I see are cars, and there's nothing above me, no height, because a lot of the buildings are only a couple of stories tall, and finding trees of the non-palm variety takes a concerted effort.

So anyways.

I'm living my life, and trying to get outside more.

And trying to find more trees.

END.

Is there anything better than trees, a hammock, a donut, and a lake?