Pardon My French

While I don’t miss the long, bitter cold Michigan winters, I do miss seasons. Perhaps more specifically, I miss weather.

Something about the sound of rain pattering on the windowpanes, the wind howling outside, is so relaxing. It’s the most soothing lullaby I’ve ever known.

Southern California has a difficult time with weather of any kind. Here, it seldom veers from the standard 70 degree, sunny days and when it does rain, people tend to panic. They either don’t leave the house or they’ll drive into each other on the roads. When I first moved to L.A., the fact that these people were treating a little rain like it was a catastrophic, near apocalyptic event was very amusing to me.

I’ve adjusted to life here on the west coast, but for some reason, I just didn’t think much of it when I heard the heavy winds rattling my windows last night. Cuddled under a blanket, sipping a mug of hot cocoa, I felt a bit nostalgic, relaxed and comforted.

This morning was a little less calming. Apparently, last night’s winds did a lot of damage. I noticed something was off from when I first stepped outside my front door. Because our apartment building isn’t surrounded by walls, it’s open to allow air flow. Normally, this is positive. The wind threw a lot of leaves and branches down our long hallway. But, it wasn’t until I got in the car and turned on KPCC that I learned about the extent of the damage.

The winds toppled trees, crushed cars and businesses and knocked out power all over the city. Driving to my job at Hollywood & Vine, debris lined the streets, business awnings had been torn down and some buildings were severely damaged. Traffic lights nearby were out, resulting in crazier traffic backups than usual.

A line snaked it’s way around the Starbucks at Vermont & Prospect, the people there had their kids with them (lots of schools were closed today) and they looked tired, disheveled and annoyed. The staff was forced to pick up the slack from other nearby, closed coffee shops.

Apparently, the wind storm was the worst Santa Ana winds Los Angeles has seen in years. I’m just glad we were lucky enough to not really be affected. We didn’t lose power or suffer any damages. Winds are supposed to pick up again later tonight and I’ve got my fingers crossed that we get lucky again.

I wish a little wind in L.A. could exist without being Michigan wind on steroids.