i've come a long way.

Glasvegas, "Geraldine"

ends of summer, beginning to senior year

here i am for a lengthy, long-awaited little piece about this passing summer. typically i recap things, but there's just been too much that's occurred. and even better, i feel strongly that tons will occur in the next few weeks of my fall semester starting.

a boyfriend. oceanside. city lights i never saw. summer heat of California. alone. soccer. music is the savior-- yes it is. the blue skies overhead whenever i left my house. the last days of my summer were a turning point from before; this year was different, gaining some things and definitely losing others. it's not terrible, however. you learn from these events, a lot actually. and from the lessons take them and just move on to tomorrow, the months, and years.

like senior year. here it is, and surely enough these 9 months will pass along too-- and i'll be a graduate, a fully-fledged adult in an uncertain real world. once again, i'll be commuting. but school will be a relief, another new exciting adventure. i have friends there, scattered, but always glad to run into me and take a second out of life to just chill and catch up. and a city i love, one that's given me so much for writing, living, and coming to terms with who i am on this earth. San Francisco, you've always done it. you've never let me down, your majesty. sadly, no place in San Francisco-- commuting as before. but even if i commute, i'm destined to do so, and just have to make the most of it. BART does give amusing stories.

i'm looking forward to this year as being the most critically challenging and most rapid development of my writing in not just fiction, but other aspects of literature, preferably poetry and nonfiction. practice makes perfect, and perfect goes a long way, it's universal. and knowing the universal traits of the craft of writing, there is my confidence being built, my voice growing stronger. writing is the sole passion in what i want to do in this life, and make it count in every second for every word that i pen on paper or in a blog post. it's one thing i will never stop at.

and in the beauty of another year passing, doors open to many opportunities to write anything. in this passing year, i want to know and feel that yes, i can do anything.

a old, fond memory

i have a very special sleeping bag. it's just as old as me pretty much; my mom took me and my sister to JC Penny when we were little on an errand, to buy us sleeping bags, that is. don't know why, didn't question it. but i knew right away that while Milan chose a pink Barbie ballerina kid's sleeping bag, my heart was set on the Bananas in Pajamas one. yes. and it's still with me, vibrant in its blue and yellowness and just as fluffy and comfy as when i would use it to sleep or sit in watching movies with my family late at night.

it was also my go-to for Dr. Suess Days in elementary school-- the National Read to Succeed Day where everyone brought a blanket and pillow to read a book with. it's a genius phenomenon, getting kids to read and relax. i loved it every time, it was as if i was blocking out the stern serious tone of a classroom by bringing in the personal comforts of my home with me. i'd find the best corner of the room, usually on the square of carpet my teacher deemed the reading circle or library and just loose myself in the book of my choice, lying flat and looking up into the story.

nowadays i don't need that excuse. summertime, now especially, that's all i do. all there is to it is a bed-- a made one, of course--tons of pillows to throw myself back in, and the same sleeping bag in mint condition, always there and ready for me to ensconce in and just soak up a good book. it's a great feeling, a simple pleasure that costs nothing but wriggling around for a good position. this is an ode to those days, to reading, to just the wonders of childhood that come back to shape the present and remind that life always has its ways of just making things right in the smallest of measurements.

and i cannot forget the comforts of a reading wall, too!

upkeep

really in love with Lana Del Rey’s music video for “National Anthem.” never have met so many British people in my life in one month. not sure how excited i’ll be for my 21st after this past weekend :l the Adrian Mole diaries. really need to work on coming in and out of blogging. i've just been a bit lazy in writing (it is summer, after all!) and of course, i have my new blog i've been in the works of getting out there too! Letters to San Francisco has been put on, like Mess, to Tumblr too, and there it is slowly but surely taking off.

with these blogs, i'm seriously feeling confident, sure of my career path and how i'd like to do things once i'm out of college. a few weeks ago, a stranger said that Letters was the most inspiring thing they've ever read. it really made a difference in my day, in that moment. i didn't get the internships i wanted or travel anywhere far or spectacular this summer, but i sure did realize what i want to pursue, and that is travel and lifestyle writing, particularly in spreading the love i have for the Bay to new faces and readers. in discovering my potential, doing what i love for a city i love, that has to be one of the most amazing summers ever. i'm simply not doing much, but in this exact spot from the place i proudly call my home in the Bay, i'm changing perspectives and shedding light, making that difference i so ardently crave.

back to writing,

and this is what's been at the core of this new story:





and the film of course on repeat like 7,0000+ times.

"i like America"

There were two dark-haired men on the platform talking today, they had worked the same shift of Cheng Feng's Express food some weeks back. Thought they'd never see each other again. And when they did their words were colorful and jumped around with laughter and amusement at this chance encounter.

They spoke Spanish.

And fromt he tracks out near the endless steel containers stacked and cargo ships resting at the rusty docks, a guy's made a modest dream with a boxcar- turned-sports grill and bar.

I like America. THings should be simple, but thank God they're not.

sick.

AND IT TRULY, ABSOLUTELY, SUCKS.

especially for the summer.

and while i put my writing on a halt as i try and get better, i made a new blog!

LETTERS TO SAN FRANCISCO. a travel blog specifically literary, with stories all about various places and people across the City and the Bay Area. my home is where all my inspirations fuel from, and i've only realize that with such devotion and ardency i have to this wonderful place, i'd better put it to use advertising it to strangers, travellers, people wanting to look into this idyllic and quirkly life of the Bay.

so please! fellow readers, check out my new blog here.