A City of Angels
I grew up in Rochester, New York but I've spent my whole, post-college adult life in Southern California. I live in the Crown City. Pasadena - which is about 15 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles and I love living in Pasadena. It's such a special place to call home.
When you're a transplant to a new place, like me, you become hyper aware of everything - especially the little things which oftentimes disguise themselves as whispers but, because you're an outsider, yell at you.
One of those many whispers I've noticed and love about Los Angeles is its willingness to help wherever help is needed. It's a quirky sort-of dichotomy. This is a place focused around an industry that appears to exalt self-centerness but that same place will stop everything to help meet a need - anywhere in the world.
Through the years, I've seen disaster after disaster occur and within a matter of hours, some organization in Los Angeles will have quickly assembled people and supplies, packed up convoys of trucks, or planes and head toward the location in need. It's pretty awe-inspiring to witness.
It's that same spirit I'm seeing all over LA right now to meet the needs of those closest to home - the victims of the most recent fires. In Pasadena, the Humane Society is overwhelmed with people looking for or adopting pets who were misplaced in the fires.
On the way home the other day, I saw a line of cars, a block long, waiting in the Salvation Army drive-up line in hopes of donating items to help the fire victims here in Altadena.
All of Los Angeles is inundated right now with sites for in-person or on-line donations.
It's inspiring to see and I'm proud to call this special place home.
When it's all said and done, it really is a City of Angels.
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If you or someone you know in the music industry who has been affected by the LA County fires, visit https://musicares.org/get-help to apply for relief. You can also send an email to musicaresrelief@musicares.org or call 1-800-687-4227
