Izumi Tanaka

I discovered this spot back in 1987 while I was still in college.  Since then, I’ve been coming here from time to time just to look at the ocean.  I’ve come here to cry; I’ve come here to take a nap; I’ve come here on a date…..  I’ve brought my parents here; I’ve brought my cat once while we were evacuated from the flee bomb; and I’ve brought a dear friend, who is now gone to Heaven.  Today I came here to think about the good times and bad times and about all the good friends I have, and to be grateful…

Every morning before the sun-seeking crowd gets here, there are these trucks that scan the beach to clean and level the sands.  They are a part of the familiar scene I encounter when I I do my morning bike ride.

Wanted to hug a big tree just to feel the warmth of Mother Earth, just to be assured everything is al’right, just to know I’m taken care of….

While I was meeting a friend at Whole Foods, I met this dog, Sasha.  Despite her fierce look, she was so mellow I couldn’t help but take my camera out.

I’m still working to build my confidence for photographing dogs that I don’t know.  This was one of those moments to give me the delight despite my insecurity.

So far we’ve had three days of glorious sunshine in the morning this week, and the temperature is comfortable enough to ride my bike without a jacket.   And I see “regulars” on the bike path — they are the “characters” in the scene that I would miss if I don’t see them.  As I’m on the path at least three times a week between 7 and 8 in the morning,  I wonder if anyone notice when I’m not there, or everyone is just into their own morning rituals…

While the rest of the world seems to be smothering in heat, it’s been more gray and cool in my neighborhood.  The marine layers stay around throughout most of the days and keeping the temperature unseasonably low. Then we got these glorious sunny morning a few days here and there.  Still, gray or blue, I’m grateful to live here as it is indeed a paradise.

Blue and green are my favorite colors.  When I’m in the mountains, I get to be surrounded by both…  It feeds me deeply.

They have been working at this for quite some time, but the old building is almost gone…  Now behind the exterior wall of the old structure, there stands a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital.  And I am indeed fortunate that I never had to utilize their incredible facility…..

The morning glory was back this morning.  The same spot, the same ocean, the same time… basking in the morning sun.

Even though it was gloomy this morning as it has been so far most of the summer, the ocean beckoned me. So there I went — riding my bike to the beach to my usual spot in Santa Monica.  When I come to the sea, I am easily convinced of God’s presence.  As of late, I have been pondering a lot on my own understanding or definition of God. As I watch the waves come and go, I am reminded perhaps it doesn’t matter.  All I know is that there’s definitely something greater than I can fathom beyond my capacity to understand and that’s comforting.