Hollywood Moment
Since I’ve been spending so much time in LA, I’ve had many experiences that could really only happen here. You know, moments where you find yourself saying “ONLY in LA!” Some are fun like star sightings (recent sightings include Aimee Mann and Michael Penn at Target last weekend and Malcolm Jamal Warner at the movie theater). Some are un-fun like people I see who have plastic surgery addictions and almost don’t look real—-very sad.
But my favorite moments are the ones that remind me of the glamour and wonder of that partly mythical and partly real place, Hollywood. The other day I had one such moment. I was rushing to see a friend of mine play on the other side of the city. I had just finished a phone meeting that went overtime and I was fumbling with the directions to the club in my car, when all of a sudden I looked up and saw something that made me slow down. As I turned my car onto Hollywood Boulevard, the sun was setting and lighting the sky with brilliant oranges and pinks. Black silhouettes of palm trees towered over me on each side of the road and on my left, windows in the mansions in the Hollywood Hills reflected the sunset. It was so beautiful it took my breath away. Since I was driving, I couldn’t take a photo right then, but I went there the next day to try to capture a little bit of what I saw. This just gives an inkling:
Something about that sight transported me. I got little butterflies in my stomach and felt in awe of the glamour of Hollywood. Visions of movie stars from the ’50s filled my mind and, for a moment, I felt like I was part of it all—like I was one of them—driving down Hollywood in a powder blue convertible with the wind in my wavy hair and movie star scarf trailing behind me. (I actually drive a 2000 Saturn, have straight hair, and was so stressed that day that I didn’t have the presence of mind to accessorize.) I vowed to remember how special it is to be able to spend time in this place where dreams can suddenly come alive and cradle you; stolen moments in the midst of the LA madness.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Wow, that almost looks like a postcard! It kind of reminds me of Beverly Hill Cop.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Dear Laura, first of all - congratulations on your new album! I know how much effort it takes to release a new CD - so many aspects to think about but once it comes out it is such a joy seeing the fruit of ones labors! I also wanted to tell you that you have such a gift for writing. Your last sentence on this blog is so beautifully written that one feels one is there. Thanks for sharing.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Good point, Shogo—I hadn’t thought of that, but now that you mention it, it reminds me of it, too!
And thank you so much, Elika! I really appreciate it. I am still enjoying your beautiful CD and hope all is well with you!
September 1st, 2008 at 6:47 am
Wow, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn at Target! I wonder what they had in their cart. Rich and I saw Aimee Mann perform at the zoo a few years ago and a bug flew into her mouth during her set. She handled that very humorously. Anyway, you are plenty glamorous just as you are! Lovees!