9 of 52: Year of Ocean

  I thought the other day how, even though LA doesn't really have seasons, I do. And so it seems appropriate I haven't been to the beach much or that things have felt a tad internal rather than external for the past five and a half months. And that I haven't felt interested in this project until yesterday morning, when I woke up with a strong urge to go swim in the ocean.Saturday night we went to a clothing swap / poker night and didn't get home until the wee hours of Sunday morning. I woke up after 4 hours of sleep with a slight headache and major hankering to swim. My schedule was double-booked for the afternoon (a birthday party for Steph & a BBQ with my sis) but I had just enough time to go for a run & swim down at Venice Beach (like I did the first week of January).I ran from my parking spot, up the beach path - past vendors, homeless backpackers, puppies on leashes, people with expensive video equipment, skateboarders and incense clouds - to somewhere in Santa Monica. I felt like I could've gone forever, but I was on a time crunch.Along the area where I got onto the path, I walked out on the sand, asked a young girl if she'd watch my stuff, Then, I walked straight into the ocean. It felt glorious.The Pacific feels so much more powerful than the Atlantic ever did when I was growing up - so I don't go in past my waist. But I swam a bit, ducked under a few waves, submerged my body.It was exactly what I needed. Glad I listened to that small voice telling me to go.So, yes - the Year of Ocean project is back! It may have been too ambitious to think I could go to the ocean & come up with new content here weekly, but I'm OK with this being as many visits as I can get... if I don't hit 52 before 2015 or it takes me 2 years, it'll still be a fun project.*See all of my Year of Ocean