Still Sunny under Different Suns

In Cambridge, the sun rises at 5 am, but doesn’t set until 10 at night.

There, my closest of friends included an oft-drunk Mexican, a fast talking Jew, Krazy (and Konservative) Koreans, sarcastic Chinese.

On my way back, I couldn’t help but think of what got us all there, in the same place, the same time, learning the same things. But simultaneously, I thought on how our talk on different things both solidified yet complicated our worlds for the better.

And while I was leaving England for good in the early hours of the morning August 21st, it wasn’t heartbreak. It wasn’t solitude, but it was just another 5 am sunrise, this time spattered with a few clouds that dotted dawn's bright blue canvas.

It’s the same feeling I got while I pulled into the familiar apartment garage just moments ago. The sun may think differently in California, but we don’t think much about it.

Whether it was in Santa Barbara or San Diego, Pauley or Staples. Freebirds to the Griddle to Karl Strauss. Tyus Edney, Mat Kearney, Blake Griffin.

And it wasn’t completely about the places that I went. Rather, it was who I went with, talked with, heard from, embraced, and ultimately learned from.

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, who I approached cautiously Saturday:

http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2011/01/ucla_womens_basketball_blocks_usc_from_winning

Mat Kearney & Tyrone Wells @ the Granada in SB, in “When all is said and done.” Two of the most crisp, compelling and refreshing vocal performances I have heard in person.

If I lose my way
And I wander down this open road for daysAnd if the sun should fall
And the dancing we once did becomes a crawlLet the memories move like shadows on the wallIf I lose my way

Joyce Wang and Jodi Matsumoto: “Pepper." “Targeting.” Accompanied with sound effects, no explanation necessary. Ebonics?

Tyler Dimich, Warrior fan & Laker hater: “Kobe’s jersey will be retired under Lisa Leslie’s because Staples is the LA Spark’s house.”

Jillian Watson’s (and Karly Shimamoto's) favorite hobo outside Freebirds. Apparently he proposed after he was denied some spare change, and he ain’t a gold digger.

Michael Chou, Roopak Bhatt, and Gabriel Tse: Breakfast Club, we like it big.

Melissa Pliss’s Jason Statham impersonation, attempting to secretively transport Birthday Boy from the wrong address to another wrong address. Wrong turns and all. Motownphilly?

Kristin Okino: “assy suites.” San Diego is shady.

David Lee’s attempt to get digits landed Ice Cream for Birthday Boy.

"Peel." "Banana."

Hores>horses.

Kangaroo Remi > Mario Remi > Pac-Man Remi?

Peter.

For me, it was more than a weekend of fun and games. It’s a time that I can look back and reflect and cherish– not to say its dusk and the sun is fading and those times are gone, but so we can say we always greet the new day to live to see and feel these kind of moments. Together.

Let’s keep it that way.

Wilson Luong: Birthday Boy, and my favorite 23 year old. Here’s a toast to you, especially.