Home, Where Art Thou?
By: Keith
When people ask me where I’m from I say “Palos Verdes.” It’s where I did most of my growing up and it’s where I come back to when I’m feeling nostalgic. It’s also the place I idealize in my head when I’m feeling down and start dreaming of the good life. The truth though is that home isn’t a place, and there’s no real coming home once you’ve left. Palos Verdes is a place I lived when I was a kid, and it’s a place that makes me feel comfortable, but it’s different now, and I’m not a kid. I realized that fact this week, first when I went to the beach and didn’t get to splash in the waves because I was watching my kids splash in the waves. Then I went to my old neighborhood and found most of the houses are now huge and remodeled (mine though was still exactly the same). The neighborhood looks more like a tour of the rich and famous than it does the family oriented place where I remember neighbors gathering on New Year’s Eve to bang pots and pans to make a ruckus.
We’re not the Same Either:
I didn’t have kids when I lived in Oklahoma. Norman was my college town, and it’s where I moved after I got married. I loved living in Norman. It was a lot of fun. When we had kids we decided to take a trip back there for old time’s sake. I even talked briefly about the possibility of moving back. But, when we drove into Norman and started looking around I was completely unimpressed. There were no bike lanes and not many parks for the kids. It was full of college kids, bars and pizza joints. It’s a college town, just like I knew it was. But, my perspective changed and it’s not what I want anymore. It’s not a place I want to raise my kids. Like a ditched girlfriend, we just grew apart. Palos Verdes, unlike Norman, is a great place for kids; it was a good place for me and it would be a good place for my boys. The problem is that I’m not a kid. If I go back it’ll be as the responsible adult – and that’ll make everything different.
Live for Now:
Running around my old high school track was fun even if the track is now a fancy rubber one where it used to be dirt. However, high school wasn’t fun in the first place because of the track and environment; it was my friends that made PV High what it was. The kids at Palos Verdes high school yesterday didn’t know me from Adam. They looked at me like I was crazy for running around their track and I felt a little weird doing it (but I’m always weird so it’s ok). If I were to move back to PV I’d have to do it without trying to turn back the clock. I’d need to approach it as a parent bringing his kids someplace to grow up and enjoy their own childhood. My youth is behind me and now it’s about my kids. Living in PV would be great provided I am capable of starting over. Otherwise I’m afraid it would be disappointment. Reality never lives up to the dream. I still love PV, but now I love it from a new perspective.
Me at the Palos Verdes Remodeled Mall
Old PV High Dirt Track
Newly Resurfaced PV High Track
Up Palos Verdes Blvd.
Me with my boys at Rat Beach
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Great insights on going “home” again. Loved the pix too!