I totally miss doing this...
There was a time in my life, when I was a Southern California girl, having lived in Huntington Beach and Santa Barbara a few good years. When I was going to my first years in college, We would take off on a Friday and drive at night in Los Angeles on the Freeways, going to where ever we chose.
We were much younger, and gas was cheaper, and we just felt free just cruising and listening to some great Los Angeles Music stations. Driving and exploring Los Angeles, driving to Long Beach, cruising to the San Fernando Valley, seeing Disneyland at night in Orange County which was so closes by.
Going to various beaches and driving though the low heavy fog. Sitting out for hours at the Huntington Beach Pier and having a hot Vegetarian Soup and crust of excellent french bread with a slab of real butter. Drinking a Dr. Pepper while digging into an amazing shrimp salad.
There were poor times, as a student...Spending Xmas with friends in the dorm and going out to the local mom and pop stores, to buy a tub of cottage cheese, and enhancing it with onions, Spinach leaves, croutons, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil.
I was into 1970s music back then. It was a thing, with us. Music from the 60s, 70s and 80s on the radio. I was pretty wide eyed back then, in a huge city that was spread out like a big dinner table and we were always hungry for a boredom killer. We even drove out to an Orange county Radio station that we all listened to, just to watch the Disk Jockey spin some our music and got to waved at him from the window outside.
I mean you can imagine a bunch of Asian girls, hanging together with Los Angeles as our entire world and it was a huge world then. There were no worries about politics, or news at all. We would stay out till 2am and have a blast singing the songs on the radio as we drove though Compton, or to Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica Pier, North Hollywood, Beverly Hills, driving by the Staple Center where the Lakers and LA Kings played , Going to Topanga State Park, it was an entirely different world at night. That magnificent view of Los Angeles from that high spot at Griffith Park right by the observatory.
I wasn't very political back then until someone got me to attend a democratic fund raiser for Howard Dean. I never thought I would ever do such a thing, but the times were a'changing and stuff started to impact on all of us directly.
I miss those friends, and I miss that little white sporty car we all crammed into. Lee Zhang, was our driver. She would always make us all chip in for gas, or buy her dinner for taking us around. She grew up in Los Angeles and knew it so very well, and I having grown up in Northern California never really knew what life in the big City of Los Angeles meant, until we took on the Freeways and just cruised for the fun of it, mostly on Friday nights. (The other girls didn't drive, but were well off and could afford the trips to the mall to check out the latest purses, dresses or shoes!) I wasn't a big fan of spending money. But I must admit, I didn't mind chipping in for gas, just to get out and see all of this.
The video above was not taken by me but it sure reminded me of those days and the only thing missing is the sound of six crazy Asian girls laughing and joking and keeping our over worked spirits up and to take our minds off the problems of the day.
There was real freedom in doing this and yeah, we were always tired and ready for bed when we got back. The car was a real work horse, and its amazing how many miles we must have put on it from that event alone. Sometimes it was random, "OH! Lets go here..I heard about this place and we should go see it!" Not all of our friends were from California. One girl was from Malaysia and had never been to a place like Los Angeles before. For me San Francisco was always so small and easy to navigate but having come down on a bus, I would have been totally lost without Lee navigating the way, telling us to watch out for streets and freeway exit turns!
But sitting in a booth a Denny's at midnight having a fresh brew and that oh so yummy Apple Pie ala mode was a real treat. It was definitely comfort food and a nice reward to Lee for driving us all over LA and back.
I miss my friends. I regret not having stayed in touch with them, but that's how life goes sometimes. You move on.. you adjust, and you cherish the things that you experienced the most. (Like the time we went up to Griffiths park to see the Comet Halle-bopp from a grander view over the City of Los Angeles.)
I will never forget those days as Long as I live, and it will probably end up being the highlight of my life... some day.
= new reply since forum marked as read
All my life leading up to the mid-90s, Halley's comet was the most talked-about and "worshiped" comet... yet it's appearance just over 30 years ago was pretty much a dud. But Halle-Bopp was the most significant, IMHO, in terms of visibility and staying power. At one point where I live, I could see it twice a day - very early in the morning positioned one way (vertical with nose down IIRC), and then later in the evening facing a different way (traditional horizontal). And the fact that it was visible during the day with the sun out was even more remarkable. 
That observatory (and its location) has been in a bunch of movies. I was last in L.A. in 1987. Definitely a city that sprawls but with cool foothills.
You could actually move through and see more of the town much more easily after midnight.
Worked really well with Steeley Dan playing on the "cassette deck. 
very kind of you to say. 
Country back than...we had no worries that the President of the United States wasn't going to turn the key of the Country over to Vladimir Putin.
off and on Sunset clubs.
This time of year you could smell the smoke from the fireplaces
in the Valley on the way down to Hollywood. My husband and I would
talk about everything.
In the Summer the light outside seemed to last forever.
Driving back home in the early,early morning to Ventura County
was just stillness around; so quiet with the car radio down low.
Often, after we were out of the Valley going North on the 101, we'd be alone on the road for a bit.
Once my husband told me to get ready, and before the Grade, he moved to the middle lane; two Banzai Runners passed us on either side.
The Tikkis
But I am on twitter, though I have never bumped into old classmates. This city is just too huge and people forget names, like I have. But, maybe one day I will hear from someone again, you never know. I have played Tourist guide in the past and have taken people out to Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, China and Japantown.. but it can be tedious at times and I always make them promise to take me out for lunch or dinner as part of the deal. Free Sushi is the best... especially if they want a tour of Japantown!
just kidding.
At our college radio station, we all thought turning pro and moving up to work at KYMS was THE goal to have. We'd go up there and visit a friend and fellow student who actually did make it there, while he was on the air.
LOVE these memories! Thanks so much for sharing them! What a lovely read. You really take me back...
