At the Summit

Despite the restrictions we’ve had with our social life with the pandemic, we still had a number of ways we could spend the Thanksgiving Day without the risk of exposing ourselves to any infectious elements. What my husband and I did was to make some turkey sandwiches and take a hike to the local mountain, Mt. Pinos. This is a mountain the native people of the Chumash believe to be the “center of the world” and is known to have some healing energy.

The air is always crisp up at the summit with elevation of almost 8,900 feet, which is the highest point of Ventura County. You can see the mountains ranges and valleys all around, and it does feel like the center of the world. I first came to this mountains in the ’90s to cross country ski. It was such a surprise to know back then there was a place like this so close from the city. And honestly, this was what attracted me here when we bought our house 15 years ago.

When I was growing up in Japan, my father used to take us to an area in the mountains, Tanzawa, which was just about an hour and a half from the city where we lived. Even though my memories are faint, I can remember the different seasons I got to experience there. I’m grateful that my parents showed me to appreciate and connect with the nature. They would have appreciated this mountain that I now call home and the center of my world where I find solace in these time of uncertainty.

#YouCanSitWithUs