L.A., I Love You

To my friend, The City of Angels.

Standing at the edge of the continent, looking north along the coastline of Los Angeles County. Credit: Pgiam

If a place could be a person, Los Angeles is my toughest friend. She made few assurances when I arrived as a naïve and determined 22-year-old, but bit by bit she taught me how to build a life from scratch.

“You, too, can thrive amidst the harshest…