For 47 years, I've been a resident of Los Angeles, yet I've never quite felt at home amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. The constant stream of cars, the cacophony of noise, and the overwhelming presence of the freeways seemed to drown out any sense of belonging.

It was during one mundane moment, while waiting at a red light, that I experienced a profound revelation. As if by instinct, my gaze drifted out of the car window and onto the surface of the LA River—a waterway that had always been an afterthought in my urban landscape. And there, amidst the urban sprawl, I saw a mesmerizing sight: sunlight refected and shimmering on the water's surface.

In that moment, I felt a profound connection to something beyond the concrete jungle that surrounded me. The light on the river became a portal—an unexpected escape from the noise and chaos of city life. It was a gateway to a tranquil realm, a serene 'somewhere else' that I had longed for without even realizing it.