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…

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.

It was my first day this season to get on my bike to the beach.  I heard it was sizzling in other parts of town, but it stayed pretty foggy all day in Santa Monica, and the beach was fairly grey, too.  But there were lots of people on the beach, even in the water. some sailing boats….

I had a meeting in Pacific Palisades this morning.  On my way back, I got to visit my favorite spot overlooking the ocean where I used go often.  It was just a reminder to be grateful to be living in Southern California where we’re blessed with blue sky and blue ocean a lot.