Patch Blog: In Wonderland

Woah. I was planning on having a lovely Thanksgiving coffee at Porto's Bakery, but as I drove past I was unsurprised to see that the line extended well out onto the street. I saw frantic moms waiting anxiously just to get their family’s favorite holiday pies. On the hunt myself at 7:30 a.m., I stood and willingly waiting. I came prepared with a copy of Alice in Wonderland in tow, all the while getting slightly excited about going on an adventure myself.

As a curious treat I drove through Bob Hope’s very own airport in Burbank. I saw all sorts of people, families uniting, students returning back home, travelers and business men finally coming home to their wives. Such an arena for promise, filled to the brim with hopes and dreams. Just being there makes me feel like a better person, someone with a quest, whose main objective is to find something that remains missing from our planted existence. These escapes, from forever-old personas to unknown streets that lead to somewhere, is an eye-opening experience. Wanderlust, that’s what they call it. I have that I think…

Driving around looking for an authentic coffee shop I notice there is a roadblock forming all along First Street. My curious nature signaled for me (at first all too sleuth) creep into the forbidden street on foot predicting that a film was shooting. But as I waved good morning to the 'oh so kind' police officer, I heard talk of a Thanksgiving race. Yes that’s right, Alice, I mean Tanya, found herself the audience of a 5k run.

Then something strange happened. I have been seeing the same person in Burbank for the last six years. Off and on, here and there, we always lock eyes in this weird connection. I know this person feels it as well. It’s unexplainable by any logic how I know this for certain, and the fact remains that I cannot “scientifically” make this claim, but there are certain inner unalienable truths that force me to this conclusion. Out of more than 2,000 runners it was there and we locked eyes in a strange mutual connection. Uncanny or fate?

As I stood around ogling the runners, trying to make a some smart-ass observation, the heavy scent of human sweat intoxicated the area. I used to be one of them and now I’m on the sidelines as the observer. The allure of running is all about pushing away and ignoring that physical feeling that says red light red light, STOP your engines are burning out. So what do you do? You can either give in or fight the physical manacles on your mind and push even harder.

Afterward, while listening to Chemical Brothers, Dissolve, I found myself in front of Burbank City Hall. The art deco was lovely I suppose, but the generic water fountain was a bit underwhelming. Whenever I see presumed art around the cites I always wonder why they don’t draw up an initiative to give struggling artists an outlet to express themselves. Our cities need more art, more color and happiness. If you look around everything is a dull monotone color. We need something new. Artists’ initiative it would be called.

With half an hour to spare, before I had to head back home to help my mom with the festivities, I found myself on that rare Glendale street that’s lined with giant trees covered in lush yellow leaves. The epitome of autumn, I finally felt I was ready for a change. I was ready to embrace the transition.   

Thank you parents, brother, my sisters, my lovely! You make my every day special.