Palm Trees in Los Angeles
I lived in Los Angeles most of my life and found this journal entry from the early 80s.
I am reminded each day of the dangers of city living as I read and hear about rape, theft, gang violence, and drunk drivers. I have myself been a victim of thefts and burglaries in Los Angeles. However, it’s not hard to see the positive things about L.A. and see what a strong backbone the city has.
I remember a Japanese relative who flew into LAX on a clear afternoon. He commented that one of the first things he noticed about the city as he was landing were all those funny looking palm trees all over the city. I guess he was accustomed to seeing palm trees on postcards from Hawaii or some island retreat.
The good things in L.A. begin and end with the people. I have shared wonderful conversations and meals with the people in my neighborhood. At school events such as international day and office potlucks, I tasted pancit and lumpia from the Philippines, tamales from Mexico, Korean bulgogi, and Polish and Arabic dishes. As I drive through my neighborhood I see many houses with identical types of plants — geraniums, carnations, and succulents. I bet that these plants were shared among neighbors who exchanged and nurtured the cuttings with great care and patience.
There is a street I used take, Kingsley Drive, on my way to work. A young man would be working almost daily landscaping his front yard. One day I saw him plant a small jacaranda tree in front of his house. The last time I drove by, there was a jacaranda tree in front of four houses. I like to imagine that the neighbors met and became good friends. Maybe the young man bought the trees at a discount and being the only one with a pickup truck, offered to make the purchases and deliveries and they all got together for a tree-planting day.
I love the people of L.A. and their different ethnic backgrounds. I like the weather and the variety of lifestyles possible. I could easily spend the day at the beach one day and go hiking in the mountains on the next day. Fact is, I love the city of L.A. There is something bold and brave and exciting about a city that sends up palm trees as emissaries to the sky.