I walked out of my room today, out into the summer air. It was cool, for the first time in well over a week. As I walked over to my trusty Ford Ranger the breeze caught me, and for a moment I was lost in memories.
It’s a funny thing, the wind. It’s invisible, and yet you know it’s there. For most of my life I’ve hated the wind. When I was younger and had much longer hair I hated the wind, for it blew my straw-like strands of hair about, whipping my face and stinging my eyes. As a surfer I hated the wind, because I lived in the SoCal and the wind ruined the waves. And now as a fly fisherman I hate the wind because it makes casting and fly placement so difficult.
But today I loved the wind. I stood there, just within arms reach of my truck, and let the wind take me back. I thought of Long Beach. The LBC. The breeze and the air temperature was just perfect, and reminded me of all those lazy summer days when I lived in Belmont Shore, just off of 2nd street.
These feelings brought back mixed emotions. I remember the good days, when Cindy and I were happy. I remember bar hopping with my TKE brothers. I remember exploring the city for the first time, when I had just moved down to the Navy base. I was homesick for Hayward, and yet excited to be starting a new chapter in my life. I remember how excited I was when I found out my ol’ buddy Amy Bookout was going to Long Beach state and I had a friend to go visit when I was able to escape from my life in the Navy–even if it was just for a little while, I could feel like a civilian again.
Too many memories to list. I stood there on my lawn and just let my mind wander, taking in all the good memories and bad. I closed my eyes and lifted my face towards the sun, and let its rays warm my skin, spurring more memories in my head.
I’ve spent the rest of my day in a dreamy state. Unable to focus upon or accomplish anything, I simply sat by my window and let my head fill with all the experiences of my life and all the memories both good and bad.
And now I feel that my soul has been refreshed and replenished. And that’s all I have to say about that.
dude you would not even recognize downtown LBC now got some cool blues/biker bars pretty happening place down by where the theatre’s are. mucho hotties.
oh yeah live bait no longer exists or mooses. those days are gone. but plenty of other cool places come on down
HUUUUUUUBS
Yeah, it’s been a few years since I last hung out in downtown Long Beach. And I knew Moose’s closed up shop, but Live Bait too? When did Live Bait close?
Oh please say it aint so! No Live Bait? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the board of health that closed that brothel down. What’s next? O’Connells..A.I.?
i guess it closed down a while ago it’s been a couple fo different places since then i think now it’s a steak house. but i always remeber the good times there. puking in the vollyball court. picking up on slutty ass women. KNAC night good times
Good ol’ Hoobs =)
Now THAT’S the Hoobs I remember!