The Childe Returns

La Mesa Blvd. at 4th Street taken from the north/east end of what is known as "The Village" in La Mesa. This is my village. I claim it to be so. For never in my days have I taken to a community as I have to this charming little neighborhood. The Jewel of East County San Diego with its antique shops and wineries and eateries and drinkeries. Like a coming home to a kingdom, mine by birthright, revealed after a lifetime of trials and wanderings. This is the place where the the "high road" is "the road less traveled" is the "path of least resistance." 'Tis a magic kingdom where I watch the babies that I know and love transform into women that I admire and revere. It is everything from start to finish, from life to death, from real to sublime. It is where I belong, the reward that I have been blessed with for following my bliss.
I chose this picture because it is the closest point to my home on Cypress Street. A starting point. There is much magic behind this image of the boulevard as well. There's Mario's Mexican restaurant where we had our first family dinner. Moze guitars where we buy the strings that make the magic sing in our home. MacArthur Park where we played our first family game of frisbee golf. And there is Lemon Avenue Elementary school, the village accadamy for fine young minds. But I needed to start somewhere and what better place than out one's own front door.
Follow me. Forward first and in chronological order. From taste to taste - first to last.
On June 17, 2011 I moved our family from Gateside Road at the south end of Spring Street to our new home on Cypress Street. In La Mesa .79 miles is 100 leagues.
Gateside east past Spring turns into Palm Ave. Palm Ave to La Mesa Blvd, turn right takes you right through the eastern end of the Village and right past John's Konichiwa Sushi which is where this tale begins. Eleven trips, back and forth in my big green van crammed with boxes, bed springs, tables, chairs, my daughters' collections of Barbie, Bratz and Polly Pocket dolls, my wife's scrap booking supplies, my bobble head collection.. Each time passing the sushi place saying to myself, "That's where I'm going to have my dinner?" Each time twice as tired as the last. Each time more determined to complete my task in the one day available to me. Each time more determined to reward myself for my day's labor with a crunchie roll and a beer?