CA Highway 1

 

    I was grateful and excited when the idea popped into mind. That weekend drive - the one we kept putting off - how about today, on a Tuesday? Snacks, waters, change of clothes for the kids (just in case.) Check, check, check. I loaded the crew into the car, and set of for CA Highway 1.

    The drive itself was something out of a dream. As the city freeways ended, the road turned into a winding, two lane route. Lofty green hills and shady trees seemed to jump out of no where. Their sudden emergence momentarily transported us onto the movie set of Jurassic Park or The Jungle Book.

    As we traveled on, small farms, nurseries and vegetable stands began popping up. They dotted both sides of the tiny, twisty roadway. One gorgeous plant shop later, we were back en route.    

    The grandeur of the ocean was breath taking. As we stood off to the side of the road, we peered over the hard, sandy cliffs. With both eyes and hearts wide open, we tried to comprehend the view. Water touched the sky across the horizon line, and the waves crashes noisily, aggressively below.  The view so massive, and so beautiful, I had to remind myself it was real. 

    After muddy feet had been scrubbed clean, sandy eyes feeling a little raw, we began our journey home.     It struck me how the ocean, both beautiful and inspiring, could be also terrifying. The enormity, combined with the wind and waves unrelenting nature, stirred a bit of fear. And perhaps stands as a metaphor for the duality of life, the contrasting yet complimentary emotions, we experience every day.