takeshi21

Step in a little closer. A little closer still. A little closer still. Perfect.

Let me tell you a little about my new home, Mt. Washington.

Its a hill, actually, that stands about 940 feet high, just five miles from downtown Los Angeles. It was apparently named after a Colonel Henry Washington, who came to Southern California in 1855 to survey the region. Major development occurred after Robert Marsh built a three story, 18-room luxury hotel at the hills summit, which could only be reached by an incline train. The Mt. Washington Hotel was a lure to draw people from downtown Los Angeles to see panoramic views of the city basin all the way out to Catalina Island and the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The surrounding real estate became highly sought after and the remaining land developed.

My curiosity got the better part of me after I discovered that the hotel is now the international headquarters for the Self-Realization Fellowship, founded in 1925 by the yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda. Naturally, I raise a skeptical eyebrow at anything in Los Angeles referred to as The Mother Center. While I have no problem living in the shadow of a cult, I also have no desire to become an acolyte of one. However, my interest has been piqued and I must investigate further as this may be a (relatively) legitimate faith.

It takes about thirty minutes to make my morning walk up my part of the hill. Out my door, up two flights of concrete stairs, onto Glenalbyn and start hiking (definitely hiking) the fairly steep road. To my left the hill rises sharply, populated by houses built precariously, sometimes almost comically, into its face. To my right and beyond the houses that directly line the street, the canyon opens its wide mouth, filled this morning with a cooling mist.

I turn right at Dove where the road goes unpaved and flattens out, giving me a chance to catch my breath. The local flora and fauna, both domesticated and wild, surround me. Morning glory, jasmine, bougainvillea, aloe, cactus, lavender, agave, iris, nasturtium, rubber trees, prickly pear, angel trumpets, loquat, birds of paradise, magnolia. There are many more plants that I know nothing about that I need to identify.

The local skunk was a surprise, causing Chavez to get quite excited. Fortunately, he ignored us both and disappeared into some bushes to the side of the road without incident.

Dove continues to twist and turn, eventually emptying onto Quail where the street is paved once more. Another steep hike up a hill to where the road meets Glenalbyn, then down the street and back home.

This is a good place to be.

Before I go, I need to share with you my new obsession: Kings of Convenience. These guys are simply amazing in that soul-aching Iron and Wine kind of way. And with that, I leave you with their lyrics to Failure, a song thats been haunting me the last several days.

Using the Guardian as a shield
To cover my thighs against the rain
I do not mind about my hair

Your jacket may be waterproof
But I know the moment you get home
You're gonna get your trousers changed

Failure is always the best way to learn
Retracing your steps until you know
Have no fear your wounds will heal

I wish I could travel overground
To where all you hear is water sounds
Lush as the wind upon a tree

I wish I could travel overground
To where all you hear is water sounds
To capture and keep inside of me

Failure is always the best way to learn
Retracing your steps until you know
Have no fear your wounds will heal

Failure is always the best way to learn
Retracing your steps until you know
Have no fear your wounds will heal