Peace Out, California!

As I was packing boxes the other day, I happened to come across a few labeled “To California”. It’s hard to believe that it was 5 years ago when I first packed those boxes in my parent’s basement with nothing but the promise of a poorly paid graduate assistant coaching job in my future. Even harder to believe is all that was accomplished in those five years, far more than I could have ever imagined. It was a ride that I will never forget, but it was time to go. Now I’m here in Milwaukee about to embark on new adventure on both personal and professional fronts, and I’m left reflecting on my time in California. I’ll miss it dearly, some things more than others. As such, here is a brief top 5 list of things I’ll miss the most and the least about sunny Southern California.

Top 5 Things I Won’t Miss About California:

5. No Good Sandwich Shops

The proximity to Mexico is great for tacos, but not so much for sandwiches. That being said, it’s damn near impossible to get a good deli sandwich in Southern California.

4. Traffic

Yes, this sounds cliché…I mean everyone complains about the traffic in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. But guess what? They complain because the traffic in LA is, without a doubt, the worst that anyone could possibly imagine. Combine this with the fact that there are no such things as fast and slow lanes (but there are, in fact, FIVE lanes to choose from), there are an abundance of people who learned how to drive by watching “Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”, and having a cell phone on your ear is as important to a car’s operation as turning the key, and you have a bad situation. It sucks, and I won’t miss it.

3. Style

Or lack thereof. Any place that embraces skater shoes, wallet chains, flat brimmed hats, big shorts, black socks, tattoo sleeves, and flavor savor facial hair has some serious issues. If I see one more short, fat, out of shape guy wearing the above defined IE uniform walk into a bar with a drop dead gorgeous blond on his arm I just might kill myself. I’ll enjoy a place where tall, in shape, educated, and good looking are more appreciated.


2. Smog

For those of you Southern California natives, you might not know what I’m talking about, so just substitute the world “marine layer” anywhere you see smog. For all others, understand that the entire population of Southern California has convinced themselves that the thick, ugly, yellow haze that hangs over much of the area for a good portion of the year has nothing to do with the fact that the area has the highest number of cars per capita, but rather is a weather anomaly caused by condensation and ocean currents. Nice try, but I’m not buying it.

I’ll never forget the first time I came out of my apartment in Redlands and saw the mountains. This wasn’t the first time I came out of my apartment mind you, just the first time I could actually see mountains when I did. You see, the smog can be so bad that the views of the 6,000-11,000 foot peaks a mere 5 miles away can be completely obstructed. I’m not exaggerating one bit, it was three days before I realized what amazing views could be seen from my back porch. David Copperfield could have a field day.

1. Being Thousands of Miles from Friends and Family

Airplanes are fun, but they’re also damn expensive and get old when you’re averaging a flight a month. It will be nice to be able to hop in the car and be less than a day’s drive from all of my people back home - and just a few feet from Amy.

Top 5 Things I Will Miss Most About Southern California

5. Mexican Food

What is the best thing about being a quick 2 hours from the Mexican border? The biggest selection of authentic Mexican food you could ever imagine. Prepared by actual Mexicans. So authentic that they don’t even speak English – I’m thankful that Carne Asada Burrito translates pretty easily!

4. Mountains

When I first accepted the job offer at Redlands, I couldn’t wait to get to California and go to the beach. After all, that’s what everyone thinks of when they think Southern California, right? As it turns out, there are mountains there too, and they have been much more entertaining than the beach could ever be.

As a cross country coach, I was constantly searching for newer and more scenic trails for the athletes to run on, and there was no shortage. As my newly developed passion for mountain biking took off, I realized I have been forever spoiled by what might be some of the best trails in the country right out my back door.

Mountains rock.

3. Weather

“Yeah, but you’ll miss the change in seasons!”

I can’t tell you how many people told me that I’ll miss the cold or the seasons or the leaves changing colors, and or any other of the wonders in a four season world. Well I’ve got news for you – bullshit. Never for one second did I miss the cold crappy weather of Western Pennsylvania. I’ve decided that all of the “change in seasons” people have an unspoken pact to remind those that live in warm climates how much they like the variety. After experiencing perpetual warm weather, I don’t believe them at all. Yep, it gets real hot in California, but do you know what I was thinking when it was 110 degrees? I was thinking that I’ll take this heat over 35 degrees and raining any time.

2. The University of Redlands

I have a strong feeling that I’ll not soon come across a group of people more dedicated to the development of young people, more committed to the pursuit of excellence, and more desirous of winning than the staff at the University of Redlands. Early on, it was made very clear to me that Redlands truly recognized the role of athletics in the academic development of students, and I was reminded of this philosophy every day. The myriad of accomplishments are far to great to list here, but in the words of Jim Ducey – “I know, he knows, and we all know, and that’s what’s important.” I’ll miss my experience at Redlands deeply.

1. Redlands Track and Field

It is important for me to differentiate between the University and the actual track and field program at the University. As much as I’ll miss the school itself, the experience would have been nothing without the team that I got to be a part of. To take a team from nothing, and become one of the premier programs in the country was nothing short of exhilarating. It took a special combination of support, coaches, and athletes to make it possible, and if every team I work with from here on out is only as fun as the team I had at Redlands, then I’ll be forever happy.

So that’s that. Another chapter wrapped up nice and neat, and a brand new one right here in front of me. I’m a pretty lucky guy.