Santa Cruz Chronicles - Day 4 

Highlights

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Highlight number one - 

I woke up this morning.  Without an alarm.  At the exact time I was planning to wake from my slumber.  And yes, I know what you’re thinking.  But when is this ever not a highlight to one’s day?! 

The real highlight number one - 

I encountered a pair of deer on my run this morning.  Real, living, breathing deer.  Since arriving up in Santa Cruz, and up until today, I’d only taken runs along the coast’s edge.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s gorgeous.  But I was already feeling the need to shake things up a bit because my intuition is at the top of its game, and I already know I’ll be running there an innumerable amount of times.  With that being said, I decided to venture through the UC Santa Cruz campus.  I literally spent the first half of my run climbing up the hill that is Bay street, to reach the base of campus.  Ironically (to some), the street that signifies the base of the UC campus is called “High Street.”         

To the best of my prior knowledge, I had heard that it’s basically a university inside a forrest, which is completely accurate, according to today’s run.  Also, by “forrest,” I mean dense, incapable-of-seeing-the-sun forrest.  The kind where you’re in awe by it’s natural mystery, but on your toes all the same because you’re not quite sure what you’ll run into.  On a secluded trail in the heart of campus, were two deer, simply grazing in the thick forrest brush.  When I first saw them, I just assumed that I was hallucinating.  But when I did a double-take, I quickly realized that I wasn’t seeing things, and that there were two very much alive deer in sight, and that in moments, I would be within feet of them when I run by.  It was breathtaking.  Nature usually is.  

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Highlight number two - 

Today was my first day at my new Starbucks.  I’ll always be part of the team at 2700 West PCH at heart, but today embarked my first day as part of a new team.  It’s really very strange, and I don’t want to sound pompous, but people who work at Starbucks (whether it be at my old store, or the stores I’ve covered shifts at) are truly genuine, in their own ways of course.  But there’s something about the types of people whom Starbucks employs.  I’ve never not gotten along with another fellow SBUX partner.  One day I’ll dive into that topic a little more.  But for now, I’d just like to relish in how welcomed I felt today by everyone I met at my new store.  Amidst syrups flying, and espresso shots pulling, and milk steaming, my new co-workers were constantly making sure I knew where things were, and that I could ask them anything I needed to ask.  I’m slowly beginning to feel as though I fit right in.

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Highlight number three -

I didn’t drive my car at all today.  Yay, for not contributing to the pollution of our environment! ... (and yay to saving gas and money!)  I rode my bike both to and from work today, and will certainly continue to do so, unless I have a closing shift and have to be at work past dark.  In that case, since I’m not a huge fan of riding my bike home alone, especially late at night, and especially in a foreign area, I’ll have to occasionally turn my car’s ignition.

Until next time...