O-town is the most beautiful city in the world...

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything here, but this might get me back in the spirit...

The following dialogue between my wife and my daughter will be written in script format to help minimize the "then she said, then she said..."

FADE IN.

INT. CAR - DRIVING ON 680 THROUGH DANVILLE AREA

DAUGHTER
Why do all of theses buildings look the same, Mommy?

WIFE
Well... in newer towns they sometimes have a person who is the developer who designs certain areas to look alike.

DAUGHTER
I don't like it. Why doesn't Oakland look like this?

WIFE
Oakland is a lot older than this area. So, some buildings that were built a long time ago now sit next to newer buildings that have a newer style.

DAUGHTER
Well, Mommy, don't you think Oakland is the most beautiful city in the whole world?

WIFE
No, actually, I think there a lot of cities that are more beautiful than Oakland...

DAUGHTER
Mommy, don't you think you're hurting our house's feelings?

KENDRA REACHES FOR VOLUME TO TURN UP THE RADIO.

FADE OUT.

So my Daughter thinks that Oakland is the most beautiful city in the world, and my Son thinks that the culmination of illegal fireworks on the fourth of July is "the best night ever." Oh, to be five again.

... but seriously, I love...

...it is somewhere between heaven and hell, caught in some mystical state of love and hate, hope and resentment, stature and fear. I am not sure that I can rightly describe what it is about Oakland love... perhaps it's one of those "you had/have to be there" experiences.

Some days, I love it and want to pat it on the back, other days... well, other days can range from flee-dom to wanting to put on the waders and slosh through the shit.

I could say diversity, but that is plain as day. Culture, but that may be passe.

It's more like the image of Darwin's fish struggling to get out of the water and onto dry land. There is something in the swamp of Oakland that wants to push The City into becoming something new and something better, but the struggle, the pain, the death... that makes it difficult to enjoy sometimes, but it also makes it something to love and root for.

I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a much larger writing experience, so I will leave it here for today...


And yes, I said The City. And yes, I meant to capitalize the "T" and the "C". Don't get me wrong, I love San Francisco and spend too much time there, but I love Oakland, so take some small offense when people tell me they are going to "the city," to which I ask "what city would that be?" Oh semantics... but if "they" can have their "city," I guess I can have my "City."


... to be continued...