a sunday in socal, 8.10.25

on the search for an authentic freddie freeman, i went to the dodger clubhouse at the shops at montebello. when i’m alone in public, i like to put on headphones and listen to music, beats, or podcasts. i was walking through when a girl stopped me. i turned my music down, but still between active noise cancelling and the white noise of the mall, my hearing was still impaired. she asked me for a hug. i hesitated for a split second because i wasn’t sure if someone was recording a prank or whatever, but i gave her a hug. after we embraced, i asked her if she was okay and she said she was lol. i hope i didn’t come off too standoff-ish, as i was just caught off guard lol. afterwards, i got to the dodger clubhouse and there was an authentic freddie freeman blue jersey. i had never seen this online at nike or fanatics, so i immediately copped. the guy said they don’t really get authentic jerseys like that, matter of fact, they hadn’t got any since he had been working. he asked if i was going to the game this afternoon and i told him i would’ve, but it was too hot. instead, i went to the kobe night because kobe was my guy. he told me kobe’s everybody’s guy, and that made me feel good because i feel like everybody has been disrespecting kobe since his death. kobe is the greatest human to touch a basketball hands down. i came back to pasadena to do some writing but ended up falling asleep. when i woke, it was damn near 6pm. i loaded the car up and drove to costa mesa to the oc fair. on the way there, i saw places that looked familiar on the freeways. westminster, lakewood avenue, bellflower, all these were places my big cousin bhe took me when i was younger. the memories came flooding back for the last half of the drive. when i got in the area, it took me 50 minutes to find parking, but the parking i found was a good location that was secluded with many parking spots still available. we walked around. i shot hoops, i did some bottle balance thing, and i saw some animals. could i ask for anything more?

what another great night it was.

-ratha, 11:48pm, 8.10.25