In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed that my travels and adventures have seemed to shift somewhat. Previously, they tended to be a bit more about learning and taking programs to acquire new and different skills. My latest adventures, however, have seemed to be largely about two things: immersing in experience(s) and connecting (to the place I’m visiting, other people and/or myself).
I have been to LA before, I have family there, and I like the area, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been back. So, while talking with an online friend who lives there about meeting up in person, and knowing other friends I wanted to connect with there, I had made the mental plan to visit in the spring. However, when my friend sent me a spontaneous message inviting me to her birthday adventure in a week with another person I had also been talking about meeting up with . . . . . I JUMPED at the chance to join!!
It seemed fitting to spend the extra calendar day we had in February this year to once again escape Kelowna (which coincidentally had snow a couple days before) and head towards warmer climes. 😆
I will say the standby game that day was NOT easy and there was one point where I genuinely thought I wasn’t going to make it. But, after spending most of the day in airplanes and airports sometimes forced to come up with quick, creative solutions, and learning/coming up with new “rules” that would be best to follow going forward with standby flights . . . . I finally made it to Cali. 🎉
The intention for this trip was all about connection. My friend Brooke greeted me when I arrived, and then the next day we picked up another friend Sheryl and headed off for Brooke’s birthday adventure. Though this was my first time meeting Brooke and Sheryl in person, we had come to know each other so well, that it was an instant, easy connection, and we spent the 3-ish hour drive to Palm Springs chattering, catching up and eating snacks (they are both expert snack packers and made me realize B-Rod and I need to step up our ‘having snacks while travelling’ game! 😆)
Both Brooke and Sheryl are talented artists, so it was no surprise when we pulled up to stay at a “rainbow” hotel in Palm Springs.
We checked things out, spent some time in the pool and then made our way to Palm Desert to check out the Art Walk that was happening that night. My short time in the desert involved art (we also went to an art festival in the area the next day) and along with connection, immersing in art seemed to be the other theme for this trip. I quickly discovered the story I had been holding that “I don’t understand art.” How fortunate to have two artists proving to me that this is simply not true while also giving me a quick, simple art 101 crash course to help me tune into art for me! When they also played the game . . . . . “recreate the scene in front of the painting” . . . I KNEW not only are they my people, but art can also be fun!
To see a video Sheryl made for Saturday Night Live Art Shows that illustrates more of our art wanderings and fun, click here
I’ve always thought of Brooke as a very playful, fun-loving, magical person and that was exactly how her birthday celebration felt. There ended up being more people at her birthday than she expected who came together in unexpected and wonderful ways, and we all gelled and clicked so easily. From multiple rainbows, to dance parties, to colourful photo shoots complete with various rainbow outfit choices, to jump shots, it was a day of fun that I felt honoured and grateful to be a part of.
To see a video of the infamous dance party, go to Brooke’s post by clicking here
Thanks for inviting me to your birthday party Brooke! 🎉🌈😍❤️
Back in LA, art continued to be a theme. One of the things that Sheryl does is paint on people. The first time I saw one of her ‘Body Art for the Soul‘ pictures I knew that it was something I would do someday even though I also knew that it would make me uncomfortable. I was correct on both accounts. When I realized I was coming to LA, I contacted Sheryl to see if she had time to fit me in for a session. Fortunately, she was able to accommodate me with very short notice. As expected, it was an experience out of my comfort zone. I felt very vulnerable and exposed in the beginning, yet being painted on is actually quite relaxing. I didn’t necessarily feel comfortable getting my picture taken, but Sheryl helped make it fun and easy. I thought it would be weird to see myself made up, but I felt like a princess (in a playful way) and I’m not quite sure how to fully express this, but I felt like it showed more of me . . . . I’ve been referring to myself as Radiant Roxy for the past couple of years and this seemed to really express that! In the end, it felt like a whole new way to experience art and connect even deeper with myself!
The rest of my time in LA was spent doing one of three things . . . . . some ‘California type stuff’ . . . .
. . . . connecting with people I expected to meet and clicking with others (people and animals) who I didn’t necessarily know I’d get to spend some quality time with . . .
. . . . and of course jump shots . . . . more than I expected (Brooke was very good at reminding and coordinating me! 😃)
I’m leaving LA with a full heart feeling connected, expanded, inspired and with some fun projects on my radar. There’s a few people I wasn’t able to connect with this time around, and I do like the area, so I know I will definitely be back! Thank you Brooke and Sheryl for being the main instigators this time to finally get me back to Cali. I can’t wait to hang out with you again!
Be sure to check out the work of my art teachers and talented friends!
Brooke’s art can be found at brookeharker.com
Sheryl’s art can be found at sherylbenjy.com