Today I went on a coastal hike in the far, far away land of San Pedro, CA.
I drove from Hollywood, and if you're an Angeleno, you know I'm serious when I tell you that I packed an emergency survival kit for the trip. Just in case.
Actually, this is one of the things I really love about California: there are about seven different climates/geographies within spontaneous driving distance, all of which can make you forget you live in the Union's most populous state.
My friend Matthew and I bonded over the Internet -- he was an early (and favorite) author on Recovering Yogi. Then I found out that we both love nachos, so obviously we had to meet. We've been planning a hike for at least the last six months, but haven't been able to find the time.
Boy am I glad we did.
I saw whales!!
(I also saw some Odyssey-like ships which I like to confuse for Plymouth-era vessels, whatever.) Unfortunately, on the way down to San Pedro I listened to a Louis CK piece about the rampancy of hyperbole in conversation, so I'm loath to tell you just how FREAKIN' AWESOME it was to see a WHOLE BUNCH of AMAZING whales! It was great.
Upon returning home I did what any self-respecting recovering yogi would do in private -- I looked up the significance of whales in my book, Animal Speak. Turns out whales symbolize creation. If a whale shows up in your life, it's time to "show the magnificence and power of your own creativity," we're told. "Don't hold back." Okay, universe! You don't have to tell me twice!
(Kindly ignore the fact that I went hiking in a place widely reputed for its whale sitings.) (Read Matthew's eloquent account of said whales here.)
