A few months a go I got a new job. My job involves a lot of driving, we cover a good amount of Southern California, so far I’ve worked in San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Each of these counties consists of dozens upon dozens of cities, you would be surprised where some are located. I got scheduled to go to Lake Arrowhead, I had never been to that area, so I didn’t really know what to expect.
My phone was dying so I took and exit in San Bernardino and went to a gas station. I needed a new charging port and cable. I set the GPS and got back on the road. After a few minutes on the highway I saw a sign that says welcome to the San Bernardino National Forest. In my head a little discomfort hits me, the earthquake had just hit the day before and it’s summer high fire advisory is on. I started getting really worried because the GPS was telling me I still had about an hour to go more.
I kept going. the elevations kept rising. The higher I got my legs began shaking, seeing the windy roads and other drivers zooming passed at extreme speeds – increased the shaking. In my mind I continued wondering, what would happen if I got stuck in this place. All those Hollywood films San Andreas and 2012. My mind started playing games on me. I pulled over to take a breath and stretch my legs.
A little breather, gave me perspective on elevation but my mind kept playing games on me, mentally I’m cursing out my dispatcher, “why the hell would she send me out in theses areas, does she know black people don’t go out in the woods.” I started paying attention to the people in the cars passing me, I didn’t see a single black person. then a truck passes with a huge TRUMP flag on the back of it, and I’m like “oh man, not this part of town.”
The roads kept getting windier as I got closer to the job site, I really felt uncomfortable, finally I reached the job site and saw my truck was at 25%, luckily I had a gas can with about a gallon in it. I took it right away and poured it into the tank. The customer wasn’t home so I had to do the job at my own discretion. I started out by rushing so I can get out of there then at some point I just paced myself and became a bit relaxed, I continued working calmly, until a truck passed by and everyone in the truck was staring at me with that what are you doing HERE look, the discomfort returned. I rushed to get out of there.
On the way down, I remembered a gas station I had seen on the way up. I made sure I didn’t miss it. I stopped to fill up and actually took a deep breathe again and I actually laughed at myself. I realized I had been caught up in a mental game all day and I didn’t even realize all the beauty around me. The amazing views from being in such a place. On the way back down I actually took my time, I made a few stops to just admire the scenery and take in the fresh mountain air.
When I got to the bottom, I told myself I have got to go back to this place and actually enjoy it, maybe go with friends and do a photo/video shoot, it’s an amazing place. My job is tiring and time consuming but the absolute best thing about it, is that it’s gotten me to see many hidden gems of Southern California and Lake Arrowhead is surely one of them.
Kujieleza 