That’s Black’s Beach in the photo, above, one of California’s most famous nudist beaches — at least when I was growing up in La Jolla in the 1970 and 80s.
It’s also a great surf spot and when I was a kid, they used to take generators and beer kegs down there and put on some pretty rowdy rock shows (for real).
When you hang out at the Torrey Pines Glider Port above, you can often see the silhouettes of manta rays and dolphins swimming in the clear waters below.
In the distance, you can see one high-rise on the point. That’s the La Jolla Cove and the building is “939” on Coast Blvd., where my grandparents once lived and where my mother still lives to this day.
We’re heading there tomorrow for a long weekend with my family: our niece Amalia will be bat mitzvah on Saturday and we’ll be there for the services and party.
It’s a big occasion for our family for another reason. Most of our California family has never met Lila Jane, who just turned two. So it will be wonderful for them to get to know the Texas side of our family a little better.
As much as I love being a Texan, being married to a gorgeous and generously loving Texan, and raising our beautiful little Texans, Californian is still who and what I am.
I’m lucky that I get to spend so much time there and thrilled to be taking the girls there at this time of year.
As Mel Tormé says in his wonderful operetta “California Suite,” La Jolla won’t annoy ya… (here’s the link to moment when the song “La Jolla” appears and the entire work — give it a listen! — is embedded below).
Tomorrow night we’ll all fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the Children’s Pool. And Friday morning we’ll take the girls to see the seals who sunbath on the sand there (Lila Jane, in particular, is really excited about that!).
Thanks for being here. I’ll see you next week.
In the meantime, SURF’S UP!
I love the glider port. Watching all those gliders in the air put me in a zen-like state.
Looking forward to you being home and spending time with your beautiful family.
We’re on our way! Can’t wait for our little pookies to see where daddy grew up and meet more parzens!
Jameson, I would love to get to show you “my” San Diego one day! Love the photo!
Tad, so psyched for Amalia and her big day. And so happy to get to spend some time together in our hometown with west coast Parzen family.
Tracie P, I can’t wait to show them the stinky seals! :)