I Love L.A.

Some people say they’re going to do something and next thing you know, it’s done. I say I’m going to do something and sometime in the next three years it’s done. I’m slow to action, but do finally get around to things…like moving.

I’m doing it. I’m packing and my apartment looks weirdly naked with all the stuff off the walls. After years of living in Southern California, I’m moving back to Pittsburgh to be closer to family. We’re all getting older and who knows how many more Christmases we’ll have together, so I want to make the most of them.

The hardest part is leaving my kids. They don’t need me anymore, but I love having them around. They make me laugh and try to make sure I’m as woke as possible. But only one is firmly planted in a home in Chicago now. Where the other two will end up, who knows? So for now, Pittsburgh will be home base.

It’s strange leaving Los Angeles, a city I never dreamed of, but somehow I ended up here. I think I was too chicken to move to New York in the early ’80s so L.A. was the less scary alternative. L.A. grows on you, like a barnacle on a boat.

I was never a beach or palm tree kind of girl, but I’ve grown to love both. I hate the traffic, the crowds, the smog , the overpriced homes, the fires and mudslides, but love the incredible variety of people and food, the warm days and cool nights – perfect for sleeping, the mountains, the fruit trees, and the crazy creativity. I love walking at night and catching a whiff of sweet orange blossoms. I love the bursts of bright pink and purple flowers cascading down walls in the spring. In short, I love LA, just like Randy Newman. I love that I know all the places he sings about in that song. Maybe I’ll make it a point to head to a few before I leave.

You’re free to be creative here. No matter what you’re into, it’s nurtured and encouraged. I love that so much. Next to my friends, it’s what I’ll miss most of all. It’s not like that everywhere.

Sure, L.A. can be fakey but it’s not snobby and I love that about it too. It’s full of former aerobics instructors, actors, models, DJ’s and comedians turned parents and hard working members of society. I should know, I’ve made friends with tons of them. I sure hope I’m able to come back to town and visit because there are so many people I truly love and respect here.

I’m not leaving until the end of April so I should be able to say goodbye to most of you here. I’ve had both my vaccines, so I’m reasonably safe. If not, it’s a good reason to come back for a visit, or two, or three, or four. Maybe I’ll even rent a convertible and find a big nasty redhead to sit at my side.