Time travel

Everything has life to it, even if it isn't living. In an effort to support my friend and expand my curiosity I went on a tour of Broadway st in Downtown Los Angeles. I've lived 30 minutes away from L.A. most of my life,been to different events hosted in the city, and overall I've neighbored this city for most of my life, been in and out of it's streets, and I have yet to understand the essence of the city. Behind the busy street flooded with jewelry stores, dress stores and various random commodities,are these silent but historic buildings. Inside the buildings are time machines, pockets of history that take you back in time and hold the memory of what the city once was. On the tour we visited around eight different historic theaters. Walking by and inside these very historic buildings I would think to myself how driving through these streets I may not have even glanced at these storybook structures that simultaneous hold the memory of what once was and gives birth to new life. Many of the theaters have been renovated to new business, apartments, and more. Some stand untouched waiting for their rebirth. My two favorite places were the Los Angeles theater and the Bradbury Building. In the Los Angeles Theater I was amazed at how much it was in it's original form. I imagined myself walking in as one of the theaters guest when it was up running. In today's day and age going to the movies is an ordinary weekend event. Years ago going to the movies was an extravagant event requiring the finest clothes, and often took up the entire night. The Bradbury building to me held so much beauty, walking into the natural light gleaming down from the skyline on to the elegantly carved wood that created the walls, staircase and general structure of the building. There is still life in things that stand still, that are old and fade into the background as eyes glaze over them not recognizing their beauty. These buildings hold life because they hold history, and remind us what the city once was and what it might be again. Take the time to find and appreciate the beauty that you may over look. Whether it is in the people or places around you. For more on L.A. tours check out And special thanks to Jeremy for a great tour.

Metamorphus

Metamorphosis- The eyes of a child gazes at the world in amazement. Not fully understanding their surrounds but taking in everything that is observed. The eyes of an adult does not gaze but watches, observes, analyzes and sometimes looks over. When we grow older our brains learn to critically think, a crucial skill nonetheless, but it is as if our brains were told that you can't believe in both logic and magic. I was reminded of this youthful amazement when a parent brought in some caterpillars to our class. When we presented the caterpillars and talked about the process with the children, and had them share their ideas, they were so excited about it that caterpillars and butterflies became the center of the world. I would often check on the caterpillars to see how the were doing. To see if they had started webbing so that we can move them to their nest. I looked at them merely as an observer not as an admirer. They were hairy and weird looking to me. After a few days I caught myself. I was treating these creatures, who in their first state weren't the most attractive things , like a daily task. I've talked about the process, spent most of my day reading books about these creatures but never stopped to really think how this process is truly unique, amazing and really unexplainable. How one creature can start off in one form and completely change it's genetic makeup. As we grow older and the responsibilities pile on everything because a job, or a task to complete. And half the time the most enjoyment we get is from consuming the contents of a bottle or from escaping on a vacation to a foreign place. Us adults need to remember to pause and realize the beauty, the wonder and the mystery around us and appreciate it. While our brain holds countless information, mostly of all the things we need to take care, it also holds our memories. I want my memories to be of something beautiful, remember the smell of a flower,or the smiles of my friends and families. Things will always need to get done, and eventually we will get them done, but if we don't appreciate the little things I feel like we are all caterpillars stuck in our cocoons. Stuck inside of chrysalis of routine, tasks, and order. Never letting ourselves become as beautiful as we can be, never turning into that butterfly and soaring through life. The irony of this story is that when we got the caterpillars we accidentally almost killed them. We put the container that they were inside in a glass jar that sealed tight. We thought an extra layer around their original jar would keep them safe in case one of our children decided to pick up the jar, or if it got knocked over. Didn't take into account that by locking the jar we were cutting off their oxygen flow. Luckily we reopened the jar just in time, right before the passed out forever. Taking this experience a step further, if you don't see the beauty and the wonder in a caterpillar turning into a butterfly take the time to find the beauty and wonder in your life. Whether its someone always remembering your birthday, receiving or giving a handmade gift. Look through the eyes of a child and see if you are amazed.