Brightness amid the grey

1.15.23

Today was a long day filled with excitement, sleeplessness, focus, and joy. I woke up around 3:40am after not being able to go to sleep the night before until 12:30am. I fed the cat and we loaded the car, and made our way to airport for the 8:00am flight. It was an interesting intermingling of nostalgia and unknown as I knew what this trip represented for me. Getting into San Diego always reminds me that I cannot forget that I was born in the state of California. We ravished our deluxe combo 1’s with chocolate shakes at the infamous In & Out Burger before driving our 15 passenger van across the border. We had a couple initial hiccups: our leader, Kelsey, getting the FBI explosives TSA specialist called on her for a open container of electrolyte powder, one of our member’s almost missing the flight, and the 15 passenger van missing two seats before we left the lot. We humored about the instances as agents of keeping us on our toes and part of the ebb and flow of mission experience.

My heart swelled as we crossed the border and looking into the familiar scape of the characteristic city. It felt like the hills were waves of welcome that cheered our arrival, like sorely missed friends of distant lands. We got to the Posada and its vibrant colors greeted us in which the grey gloom of stormy skies could not veil its concrete embrace. Settling in was jovial and reflective, as we shopped, played card games and puzzles, had introduction, then headed out in the flooding downpour for some authentic street style food at the taqueria. There is something sensory stimulating about seeing the steam of your breath mingled with the smoking grill of comfort food. Eating fully robust tacos whose contents spill from its side all while wearing a poncho is an experience one could never fully articulate.

To say the least, I was stuffed and happy even when I had to find creative ways to layer my clothes and the unexpected chill of the evening. I could not expect any less fro the first day and am eager to see what tomorrow brings.