I spent part of today outside with my best friend and partner in everything, my husband!  We decided to  grab some take-out lunch and go up to Cabrillo Monument in Pt. Loma.  What a great decision that was!  The day was one of the most crystal clear days that I have ever seen. On the ocean side of the park the sea gulls flew past us, flapping their white wings, and the waves broke with frothy foam onto the tidal pool areas.  The sail boats and sports boats lazily moved up and down the coastline.  At our feet we could see the bright yellow flowers and smell that familiar California brush aroma as we walked to the tidal pool area. On the bay side the San Diego skyline couldn’t have been prettier!  The arch of the bridge was just as beautiful as intended by its designer.  The mountains in the distance reminded us of the desert just beyond.

Having recently written about connection with other in our community, I continued my observations of today’s community–the visitors to the park.  If we just take time to quietly observe, we might be surprised.  I saw the kindness of a father holding his daughter’s hand tightly to protect her from falling, young friends helping each other climb down the steep path, a father coaxing his young son towards the restroom before the long ride home.

My favorite observation occurred twice in rapid succession–young men hoisted, without hesitation, their female companions’ fashionable and highly-impractical-for-hiking purses onto their shoulders, freeing the ladies’ hands to maneuver down the sloping landscape.  We chuckled to see one fellow with a large satchel decorated with a skull and cross-bones balanced on his shoulder as he offered his hand for support to his “maiden in distress.”   Another young man gently urged his date to trust him as he took her large purse, put it around his neck and then guided her down to his level.  Chivalry is not lost!

What a relaxing day to enjoy and connect with the wonders of nature–the colors, smells, and sights of a spring community in San Diego!

Smiles, reunions, goodbyes, tears, luggage, security checkpoints, and yes, hula hoops, balls, dancers, music…all of these were seen at the airport recently. In conjunction with Women’s History month, the Eveoke Dance Theatre performed “Ripples on the Water” as part of the San Diego International Airport’s Performing Arts program.

The airport is a wonderful place to people watch, but earlier this week I was able to enjoy a marvelous free dance performance and watch the people watching the dancers!  Stop and think a moment about your visits to the airport.  We all have our roles; as a traveler either coming or leaving home, or maybe we are the person facilitating the arrival or departure—family, friend, transportation providers and so on.

The purpose of the performing arts series is to provide a small period of time to stop, look around and enjoy the sights and sounds of dance and music when you might least expect it. The performances take place in terminal 2 near the down escalator between the two baggage claim areas.  As people come down the escalator their eyes scanning the crowds, imagine the looks of surprise when they see and hear song and dance in this most unexpected place.

“Ripples on the Water” explores the common ground and connections we have with everyone, not just locally, but also globally, especially as we seemingly become more connected through technology.  As people took time out of their airport “agenda” to stop and watch the dancers I reflected on the airport as a community in itself, ever-changing as people flow in and out.  I watched people gently navigate the crowds to find their luggage, get to the departure gate or go outside to waiting transportation. Many times there were momentary interactions with other “community members” with or without words.

The dancers admonished us—it is in our power to create those interactions with smiles or scowls, kindness or rudeness.  While I was people watching, I saw an airport information team member cheerfully answer questions. What did he receive in return?  A smile and thankful pat on the shoulder.  Then there was the young boy who was wearing the complimentary pilot’s wings. He must have received this small token from a caring flight crew member who connected with him.  Arriving fliers riding the escalator looked confused at first, and then would break into smile when the moment of understanding took hold. Many took time to stop and watch before moving on.

So next time you are in an airport take a moment to look and check out the community of the moment around you; maybe you’ll even be treated to some music and dance!

CIBU is located in downtown San Diego, sought after for its year-round mild climate, diverse population, and popular designation “as “America’s Finest City.” As the 8th largest city in the United States and the second largest in California, San Diego has also become a leading economic center in the areas of tourism, biotechnology, high-tech innovation, shipbuilding and the military. It is well within driving distance of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the Baja Peninsula of Mexico.

San Diego is a dynamic community boasting of a young upwardly mobile sector (33 years median age), 40 percent of whose population holds a bachelor’s degree and earns a median household income of $60,000.

San Diego offers a relaxed outdoor lifestyle with its spectacular beaches, deserts and mountains. It has several world-renowned attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park and Sea World. It is in close proximity to Hollywood, the Napa Valley wine country and Disneyland. Another important dimension of San Diego is its link to early California history and its strategic border with Mexico our neighbor to the south, both of which offer travelers and business a unique cultural heritage and thriving cross-border commerce.

Hillcrest is a dynamic area all day and night long. Boutiques, cafés, ethnics restaurants and a theater make it attractive. Ten min from Downtown and close to the highway, Hillcrest is well situated in San Diego. Hillcrest is the kind of area which offers an energetic activity every minute since it has lots of pedestrians.

Mission Valley is linked to Downtown via freeway. This area is more quiet and has lots of condominuims to live in. The Qualcomm Stadium belongs to Mission Valley and offers an electric atmosphere during match-nights. Fashion Valley is also a place to go where doing shopping is a real pleasure, inside an open-commercial center.