The open road. I drive the highway twisties from Morongo, the high desert to the windfarms of San Gregorio Pass. A fat orange sun burns to the west of San Jacinto. I merge into the zone of the freeway. I'm remembering a drive almost a year ago. The sun burned that day too - setting in a gorgeous orange sky. The initial conversation that lead to my current project.
So much has happened in a year. I reflect on what I've done. I think about what I have in front of me. I know my dreams. I'm clear with my goals. On top of it, I am a trained futurist.
My first stop, in my city of dreams, is a fountain on the edge of Griffith Park. The fountain reminds me of La Dolce Vida. I've wanted to revisit this fountain for some time. I love the way it looks at night, the colors changing in the shifting waters. Mr Dog and I meander around this small space, and then something catches my eye. Galloping legs across the grass. It's no dog on a leash, it's a Coyote.
I chuckle to myself. I have just arrived from the desert, I heard the packs of Coyotes coming down from Joshua Tree Park last night. Here is one in my beloved city. Rather than running away, Mr Coyote stops. Mr Dog and I are curious. Across the dark grass we watch each other. We keep our distance, yet we keep pace. Coyote is just as curious.
For moments we continue our non-verbal communication. Wild animal, tamed animal, a human in between. A momentary encounter, mere feet from busy Los Feliz Boulevard and a disco colored fountain. I stand in presence. Mr Dog lays in his pre-attack crouch. Coyote stands facing us to the side, his ears perched high, listening.
The moment passes. I break the magic and return to the civilization of this city. I have been reminded that beside the human development, the wildness remains.