All the Leaves are Brown and Wolves

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've been for a walk on a winter's day I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A California Dreamin' on such a winter's day stopped into a church I passed along the way well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray you know the preacher likes the cold he knows I'm gonna stay California Dreamin' on such a winter's day …”

When I was young and growing up on the east coast of America, California was like a magical place in a lot of ways. It was the sunshine state before air-conditioning made Florida popular. It’s where the hippies were and the Vietnam War protesters’ all lived. It was the place the Dodgers and Giants moved too. It was where the movies were and the stars shined brightly. And oh yea it’s where all the gays were in San Francisco. At least that is what people think they don’t know we are everywhere : )

But there were two songs I loved growing up about California and they shaped how i saw it, one was by the Mamas and Papas: California Dreamin'. The words of the song above really spoke to me, as New England is a cold place on a winters day and I wanted to be warm in LA. So many times before I left the church I pretended to pray.

The other song was from an English band, Led Zeppelin. Going to California. Ok so as a teenager I did smoke some weed and drank some beers well a little bit too much at times but that is a story for another day, maybe soon. But in a way I have always sought a new start to this life of mine.

… Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine. Made up my mind to make a new start, Going to California with an aching in my heart…Took my chances on a big jet plane, …The sea was red and the sky was grey, Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake As the children of the sun began to awake. Seems that the wrath of the gods Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow; I think I might be sinking. Throw me a line if I reach it in time I’ll meet you up there where the path Runs straight and high. … Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams, Telling myself its not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

Some days when I was young I couldn’t convince myself it wasn’t as hard as it seems. I felt like it was never going to work out this life of mine and being gay well that just wasn't in the plans. I stressed that my life or the promise others saw in it would amount to nothing but also like the songs says when you stand on that mountain top after you have taken the path that runs straight and high, well the view of how your life works becomes crystal clear. I hope you all reach your mountain tops

I am going to California tomorrow to do a little dreamin and take a few days off. Maybe I will have some time to catch up on reading all your blogs. Any of you Californians have any ideas what I should do or see out there. I have been before and well it like every where full of beauty and imperfections but its worth another visit I think.

And I am happy to announce the return of Wolf back to blogging. Many of you older timers may remember his old blog Curious Wolf, well he is back with -- Wolfi's Blog – so if you have some time please check him out, and add him to MSN he has his listed somewhere on his blog :) . Hey and thanks to Blake for becoming my latest follower. And if you are a recent follower and I haven't yet acknowledge you please leave me a comment or send me an email so I can fix that problem.

Happy Birthday to Mirroboy's blog also and I hope you have many blogging birthdays : )

Hope all is well with you and yours my reader's; thanks for reading.

Take care and be safe

Cvn70