Some Planets are Only 381 Miles Away

 

I haven't missed posting a Niya's Place blog monthly for over 3 years. But recently I've turned my life as well as the rabbit tribe's lives into something that resembles a Fellini Movie in reverse. The event I'm speaking of is the move from Sonoma to Los Angeles to attend a 9 month program at UCLA in screenwriting. 

I thought... how hard could it be. It's 381 miles from the Bay Area. The ocean is spectacular. It's the only place in the world that eats, breathes and sleeps story as an art; as a science and as the crazy creative lifestyle it produces. Not to mention, you trip over writers here, and they have full conversations with one another. Not something I found easily in Sonoma even after copious amounts of really good wine. LA is so hated by so many I was embarrassed to tell my friends how excited I was about this adventure. Not to mention the two fully written scripts that would come out of it in the end.

Given that the world is made of smells for animals. I'm sure Dakota's near death experiences after living in a gross, flea infested, toxic mould house is as keen on the truth (that my landlord masked about that house) of what was rotten under that house as his whiff of Los Angeles in general. I'm pretty sure he's more aware of what's happening behind the scenes at Disney than I might ever be. Just to put a fine point on the fact that my dreams and adventures have the gravity of the senses attached to my critters day to day experiences. 

So yes, we are out of that icky house.

And yes, I've made an indoor herb garden and I open the windows in between the sonic blasts of ghetto helicopters overhead for the rabbits to experience as much nature as possible. But they glare at me daily, they want to pick up the phone and call the Sonoma creek and whisper sweet nothings to it, to say, I miss you, I loved your smell, when can I see you again?

Yup, this part is difficult, but I swim several times a week, keeping up the energy for the fight, for creative chemistry for the script I'm writing, for new ideas to get the rabbit tribe to yet another home for the remainder of the program. Because when we left Sonoma we forgot that LA is a strange and new planet with new traditions, smells and rules and we must find our way both back and forward at the same time. Love is the great stabilizer of course...

• • •

Dakota: I will not ever, ever, ever become an ocean bunny. It's out of the question.

Niya: But seaweed is cool.

Dakota: I'm not even close to forgiving you for dislocating us -- do better!

Niya: I do have connections, I'll see what I can do. I hear there is a fish and carrot factory at the bottom of the ocean around Will Rogers State beach.

Dakota: Blank, impatient stare.

Comments

[David Leikam]

HaHa! I had been wondering where Niya's Place had gone to but lovely to see you haven't missed a step in your absence. Yet another wonderful edition here with your beautiful wit and honesty. Good to hear Dakota is well with the relocation and that you are flourishing creatively in a better living space now too. Los Angeles is my second home (1996-2006) and miss it at times but without an automobile, it is hard down there so I see San Francisco in 2010. Hope this marks the return of Niya's Place and look forward to the next edition soon!