This is the picture I went down to Huntington Beach today to get–I love these Lifeguard Stations.
After I knew I had a good shot, I wandered around downtown. As I cruised the streets of my hometown I started to get an overwhelming feeling of sadness. The big orange buildings, dirty sidewalks, and trashy stores made me wish they never tried to “revitalize” the area.
Perfect example:
Yes, funny. But, very disheartening for someone from Huntington Beach. (See poster of our pier behind freaky, faded, t-shirt kids?)
I remember when they tore down the Golden Bear and shut down Safari Sam’s because the city wanted to “clean up” downtown. As I walked around today I kept thinking: “For this?” I was bluer than blue. Feeling disconnected from my past.
Then I spotted this on my way back to the car:
I was happy again. These are the tracks left by some random surfer. He walked straight down the middle of the parking lot and was long gone by the time I got there. I could picture him. Dripping wet. Bare chested, with his wetsuit pulled down to his waist. Shaking his hair dry as his sandy feet made their way.
I was reconnected!
Yes one feels this way some times 🙁 However you made a good well illustrated story out of it which I enjoyed! Particularly the footsteps photograph!
And congrats for your new president! We’ll be voting on Saturday for NZ’s next 3 years government and PM. Cheers!
The kids are freaking, but I LOVE the wet footprints picture. And they way you describe him.. yum 😉
Those footprints make up for everything else.
I love the footprints on the pavement…great shot!!
I feel the same way when I visit the town where I grew up and so much has changed and not for the better.
Love the foot prints..you have such a great eye.
I still have my Golden Bear birck!
So my (surfer) kids are just discovering HB. And they think it is the greatest place ever. EVER. They have decided we are moving there very soon. We might. Who knows.
I am constantly saying things like “oh my gosh..this USED to be cool/better/neater/etc”…and Jack finally said one day “mom we like it NOW”. So I learned to just shut up. Sometimes my nostalgia can be such a buzz kill for them.
lovely photo story- really says it all.
Hey why am I no longer on your blogroll?
Bummer. And that was my claim to fame too…
Not quite the same, but there is a ‘newer’ safari sam’s in hollywood- did you know that? It must have relocated after the HB fiasco..
I LUV me some lifeguards and surfer dudes!!! Ohhhh, summer is SO far away:(
I’m glad those fabulous footprints cheered you up:) I don’t think there’s ANYTHING that a little sun, sand and surf can’t fix!
Oh, I love that last photograph! It’s really wonderful.
Great shots…makes me miss HB. Oh wait…a minute I live in Huntington Beach. Best place in the whole world. Thanks for capturing some really cool images. Especially, those surfer foot prints.
I had the same experience of disconnectedness in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of DC, where I lived and worked from 1990-1994, and am now working there again 14 years later. Where the independent movie theater used to be, they just opened a CVS/pharmacy. And my favorite independent (local DC chain) bookstore has just finally closed for good within the past month. It just ain’t the same!
Love the wet footprints!
Wow, I love the wet footprints. I can see exactly the scene you describe. And I can smell the surfboard wax too!!