It'll be a couple of weeks before he sets foot inside this room again. What was normally a disgusting, grime filled dirty floor, is now clean one, mopped just a couple of days ago. There was still a bit of dust but the floor was as clean as it could possibly get. The large table, sitting in the middle of the room had only but a handful of newspapers. Quite a different scene than the still tied bundles of issues that would normally be sitting on it. He's going to miss this place.
The day called for one last final. A typed up critique of a class he forgot to drop due to a long weekend. Some drinking may have been involved but it couldn't be helped. An F grade was probably awaiting him in the end but it's of little consequence. Not being a fan of failure, he never is afraid of failure. Regarding it as more of a learning experience than a reflection of the work he did or didn't do at least, and what he is possible of doing at best. Besides, how does one succeed if one fears failing?
With his critique of the class done, he did his best to stay inside the room for as long as possible trying to avert the inevitable. Small talk here and there with the remaining students in the class about their plans for the winter break and the upcoming Spring semester as well as his plans but alas, the time had arrived for him to leave. "See you in the Spring," he said, as he closed the door behind him. At least it was a beautiful sunny day.
There's a little tradition he observes and practices, almost religiously, after the end of anything meaningful. Head some place far and quiet to do some reflecting. Normally he would venture out on the metro go some place local but luckily his sister has gone on vacation and he was left car sitting. Distance wasn't a factor, nor was it important, he was all about the journey. So he took to the freeway and started driving south at first, through the winding road and hills of Topanga Canyon and onto Pacific Coast Highway where he proceeded north and he kept driving until it transitioned to the 101 freeway. Throughout the drive, he thought of possible places to stop on the way to wherever the hell he was going. It wasn't until he drove past Ventura that he remembered of a place that would be perfect for him to just take stuff in.
One day, a few Summers back, he attended a beach party with his friends in Carpinteria. One of the reasons why they picked this beach was because you were allowed to drink alcoholic beverages which isn't allowed on most southern California beaches. Perfectly seasoned carne asada was cooking on the grill, the sun shone brightly, enough to warm up the sand to be able to walk on without burning your feet and the countless drinks that were had. After the end of what was a great day, walking up the incline that lead back to the parked cars, he noticed an empty park bench sitting atop the hill, overlooking the beach and pacific ocean with the sun setting behind the mountains in the foreground. This moment, needing to be captured, he lifted up his trusty Diana camera that was loaded with black and white film and took a photo. A photo which now hangs in his room. This moment captivated him, promising to come back one day.
The sun was nearly setting when he finally reached his chosen destination of Bates beach. Quickly parking his car, he walked over to the park bench he remembers and it was nearly the same as he last saw it. Other than this day being much colder than that warm Summer day, the bench was empty and the sun was nearly in the same position but this time just sitting atop the mountains. He took one second to take in the sight just before taking his place, and sitting on his bench.
Thankful for what has transpired for him the past couple of weeks, he starts thinking about the many friends he made, some who have become dear friends to him, and the friends that were lost. Of those lost, he managed to regain some of them and for that he feels fortunate. The semester has made him into a stronger and more experienced person as he learned of what he is able and not able to do along with new found weaknesses and strengths. With little regret and a heart nearly as full as the day, he takes one more look at the sun, now nearly eclipsed by the mountains, before leaving his bench once again until another day comes when he should find himself back at this same moment.
So comes and goes another day. With all that he has learned, the next semester looks promising. As he leaves Bates beach, the thought of seeing his friends again and getting back in the grind of the newsroom a couple of weeks from now is the one thing that keeps him at ease. February just seems so far away.
The day called for one last final. A typed up critique of a class he forgot to drop due to a long weekend. Some drinking may have been involved but it couldn't be helped. An F grade was probably awaiting him in the end but it's of little consequence. Not being a fan of failure, he never is afraid of failure. Regarding it as more of a learning experience than a reflection of the work he did or didn't do at least, and what he is possible of doing at best. Besides, how does one succeed if one fears failing?
With his critique of the class done, he did his best to stay inside the room for as long as possible trying to avert the inevitable. Small talk here and there with the remaining students in the class about their plans for the winter break and the upcoming Spring semester as well as his plans but alas, the time had arrived for him to leave. "See you in the Spring," he said, as he closed the door behind him. At least it was a beautiful sunny day.
There's a little tradition he observes and practices, almost religiously, after the end of anything meaningful. Head some place far and quiet to do some reflecting. Normally he would venture out on the metro go some place local but luckily his sister has gone on vacation and he was left car sitting. Distance wasn't a factor, nor was it important, he was all about the journey. So he took to the freeway and started driving south at first, through the winding road and hills of Topanga Canyon and onto Pacific Coast Highway where he proceeded north and he kept driving until it transitioned to the 101 freeway. Throughout the drive, he thought of possible places to stop on the way to wherever the hell he was going. It wasn't until he drove past Ventura that he remembered of a place that would be perfect for him to just take stuff in.
One day, a few Summers back, he attended a beach party with his friends in Carpinteria. One of the reasons why they picked this beach was because you were allowed to drink alcoholic beverages which isn't allowed on most southern California beaches. Perfectly seasoned carne asada was cooking on the grill, the sun shone brightly, enough to warm up the sand to be able to walk on without burning your feet and the countless drinks that were had. After the end of what was a great day, walking up the incline that lead back to the parked cars, he noticed an empty park bench sitting atop the hill, overlooking the beach and pacific ocean with the sun setting behind the mountains in the foreground. This moment, needing to be captured, he lifted up his trusty Diana camera that was loaded with black and white film and took a photo. A photo which now hangs in his room. This moment captivated him, promising to come back one day.
The sun was nearly setting when he finally reached his chosen destination of Bates beach. Quickly parking his car, he walked over to the park bench he remembers and it was nearly the same as he last saw it. Other than this day being much colder than that warm Summer day, the bench was empty and the sun was nearly in the same position but this time just sitting atop the mountains. He took one second to take in the sight just before taking his place, and sitting on his bench.
Thankful for what has transpired for him the past couple of weeks, he starts thinking about the many friends he made, some who have become dear friends to him, and the friends that were lost. Of those lost, he managed to regain some of them and for that he feels fortunate. The semester has made him into a stronger and more experienced person as he learned of what he is able and not able to do along with new found weaknesses and strengths. With little regret and a heart nearly as full as the day, he takes one more look at the sun, now nearly eclipsed by the mountains, before leaving his bench once again until another day comes when he should find himself back at this same moment.
So comes and goes another day. With all that he has learned, the next semester looks promising. As he leaves Bates beach, the thought of seeing his friends again and getting back in the grind of the newsroom a couple of weeks from now is the one thing that keeps him at ease. February just seems so far away.