"The secret of life is to enjoy the passage of time." - James Taylor
My 800th review, it's corny but true, haha:
I have fallen in love.
I can't wait to drive to San Pedro to see it again. I suddenly have so much energy that I run up & down its hilly terrain on my bum knee without pain. I catch myself smiling all the time. I think of excuses to drive down and visit the park. I sleep better at night, more peacefully.
I can't imagine this park would ever disappoint me or that I will ever grow tired of it. I don't believe I will ever find a park I love more.
It wasn't love at first sight. I had no idea how special & magical the place would become when I first laid eyes on it, three years ago. That's when I first discovered the park, when I almost rented a house across the street from it, a sweet vintage Spanish style with a pool, a pool house, and a view of Vincent Thomas Bridge & the harbor. For $2200 a month. I blew it.
I let it slip away and instead bought my money pit condo from hell. I shoulda trusted my gut & snagged that cool house. At the time, I thought San Pedro was too far, too out of the loop, and maybe it is.
And maybe I'll get another chance, who knows.
For now, I'll trust destiny's wisdom and view it as water under the bridge. Speaking of which....look at the photos of the enchanting old stone bridge in Averill Park. Set down in the peaceful lagoon, it's a scene right out of a fairy tale.
It happened like this: Recently I rediscovered Averill Park, after 3 years had passed. I was taking biz photos in San Pedro, to post to the site, a couple weeks ago, and I remembered the park & the house, and drove by to check it all out. That's the day it hit me, as I walked the park. Some powerful feeling came out of nowhere and I didn't want to leave. I went back every day for 4 days in a row.
When I wander the park, nothing is wrong, in my mind. I am completely in the moment & all is well. The park compels me to leave all negativity outside its boundaries, like a lover would do. The park overwhelms me & amazes me & delights me, like a lover would.
I am completely charmed.
My relationship with Averill is not without challenges, however - the hills are very steep. Some paths I can't even navigate, too risky that I might slip and wreck the knee. But in time I'll feel more comfortable, more secure. For now I kinda like the uncertainty though, it adds excitement to this love affair. I don't want to know all the paths all at once, it's best to have some mystery, to leave some things as yet undiscovered.
I'm sure I'm not the first person to love Averill Park, certainly not the first to be in love at Averill - there are decades worth of hearts with initials carved into the majestic banyan trees. Banyan trees are spiritual, you know. Some say they fulfill wishes and represent eternal life.
As one would expect in an area of this size, Averill Park has a few full-time caretakers. I chatted with one of them, an elderly gentleman, after I spotted a Great Blue Heron in a tree. He told me there is a pair of herons, and also kingfishers. I haven't seen a Great Blue since I lived in IL, they are so graceful.
And of course there are ducks and geese galore. I was even chased by a goose. He put his head down low to the ground and started toward me, threateningly. Like an idiot, I ran....laughing at myself.
Throughout the park are isolated, shaded picnic areas with grills. Some overlook the water, some are nestled in groves of trees. In the summer, mosquitoes are a nuisance, a local resident told me. So my lover is not perfect. And that's OK.
There's a romantic gazebo on a hill with views of Long Beach Harbor. It's a popular place for weddings, for which a permit is required.
Averill Park has too much class to have an unsightly parking lot, but there is oodles of free parking on the streets bordering the park, and in the surrounding residential neighborhood. Nor are there sports facilities or playgrounds - Averill is designed to be a captivating, disarming place to appreciate beauty.
So Averill Park has won my heart.
When you see the photos, you'll know why. There are about 45 so far - I like to brag about my love & show it off to the world.
I should be in pretty good shape if I keep running up and down Averill's dramatic hills. Lovers do tend to give you a good physical workout, especially in the beginning.
That reminds me, I gotta go, I got a hot date waiting for me in San Pedro..... read more