Simply Op

07/15/2026 One of my favorite places in OC is the HB Pier (Surf City). I usually park off of 8th Street because the cross streets are edible. Today, I picked 8th and olive; then, I repeated… “I ate (8) olive” to remember where I parked (lol). I love to walk the pier, walk the paved path that lines the beach, watch the surfers, watch the volleyball players, people watch in general, check if the fisherman caught any fish, and stroll down the main street to see what’s up (today was energy – World Cup). It is an action-packed place with plenty to see and plenty to do!

Today, all of the lifeguard captains had to do their pier jump. It is exactly as it sounds; each individual climbs over the barrier, stands on the ledge, checks self/water for clearness, and then proceeds to jump in. Flippers are then thrown down so that they can tread water while everyone completes the task. I have stumbled upon this part of lifeguard training before, so I was not shocked by the jumpers at all. Today, though, it felt different. I stood witness to team camaraderie, pride, bravery, and triumph. The last boy out of the crew to jump was scared. You could see his feet/legs quivering, the deep breaths he took as if trying to regulate, and his rational brain resisting letting go of the bar. It was a high-pressure situation as he was being watched by his peers (from the water down below), his family, his coach, and random outsiders (like me) who were just gawking. The team counted down 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1; he did not jump. They tried again and again with repeat verbal encouragement. They gave him time… much longer than anyone else who had jumped before him. Then, after what felt like a mini eternity, he did it. He jumped. I teared up because it is not every day you watch someone overcome their fear in real time. He was genuinely afraid. With support, encouragement, a model, and time… he overcame the fear that was holding him back and he succeeded! He popped up out of the water okay. ❤

I have taken a lot of photos and made many memories at the HB pier (e.g., I sat with a drug addict who was in rehab and listened to his story, met a coworker for a walk, enjoyed coffee at the beach while staring at the ocean, stumbled upon the annual car show, and solo ventured to witness others in the world). Huntington Beach Pier, thank you for being a strong foundation that welcomes all. You will be missed! xo