Let's Get Out Of This Country, I'll Admit I'm Bored With Me, I Drowned My Sorrows And Slept Around, When Not In Body At Least In Mind

--"Let's Get Out of This Country", Camera Obscura

I recently bought tickets for my annual trip to Boston for the later part of this May. I can't believe it's been almost two years since I went back. Usually, it's an annual tradition and it felt kind of weird not to go last year. Granted, Chicago was nice and going with Breanne was even nicer, but there's something to be said about having a tradition and sticking to it. I don't know--Boston is kind of like my Mecca; whenever I go there, I always come back centered and more in focus. I know I've written before how I think I must have been a Bostonian in a former life because so much of what I liked seems inexplicably linked to this fair city. It goes much deeper than that, though. A lot of who I am seems more prevalent in Boston than it ever does in Los Angeles.

People always speak ill of East Coasters--how rude and inconsiderate they are--but I've never had that be the case whenever visiting Boston. Indeed, on one of my first trips there I was welcomed with open arms at the Red Sox game. It seems they're willing to accept anyone... as long as they're a diehard Sawx fan. However, this spirit of camaraderie manifests itself in other aspects of the city. I always get the sense of this smalltown feel in a big city. From the shopkeepers to restaurateurs, from the ushers at the game to the people just lounging in the Commons, everybody gives off this vibe of being really down-to-earth and neighborly such as I haven't felt since being back in Sierra Madre. It's a far different experience than Los Angeles, where the most you see of people is in their cars and it's almost a miracle when you can actually strike up a conversation with a stranger.

That also brings me to the fact that I love how Boston is a walking city. Sure, there are cars, but I've never had to once rent a car while going there. With the stops every few blocks are so, I've been more than able to get around adequately. If L.A. were more like that, you can believe me that I'd be seeing more of what the city has to offer on a daily basis like I do in Boston. There's something exhilarating about being able to discover some out-of-the-way establishment that isn't on any guide or tour book simply because you were clever enough to poke your head around where most people are too timid to go.

Lastly, of course, there are the Red Sox, a team I could watch everyday of my life. If there is one case to be made of my moving to Boston, the 2007 World Champions would be it.

It took some doing, but I've gotten my friend Ilessa to accompany on this trip. It's not an ideal situation because I'm sure, unlike in trips past where went on my own and thus had full run of the show, we'll be getting in each other's way quite often. However, she is graduating USC this year and Boston is what I think of when I think of a good place to celebrate. Also, I promised that one of these days I'd take her on my paltry tour of all the various bars and drinking establishments to be had in the city, so there you go. I don't know--it should be fun and it'll be nice to have someone along who is seeing it all with fresh eyes. I haven't had that since, well, Chicago.

It's different with Boston, though. I've kind of adopted it as my city and to be able to share it with someone makes me think I'm master enough to begin teaching. I'm no longer the ingenue still looking at the city with widened eyes and widened mouth. Now that I've gotten a fair grasp of how the city lives and breathes, it's going to be pretty awesome being able to pass along that knowledge to somebody else.

I can't wait.

Yours Swimmingly,
mojo shivers