Simply Op

08/25/26 Outside Walk

I woke up uncharacteristically early, got ready for the day
Fell back to sleep for minute, the risk of that brief bed down lay
Eventually, decided to go with my original HB Pier walk plot
Pre-walk iced matcha at Blue Flame, weather hot
Parked on 8th and Olive as always, proud of my proximity to the curb
Sometimes I street park and I get out, cue re-park perturb
There was a rugged man playing a harmonica on an HB bench at the start
Common occurrence, I didn’t give it much thought or heart
For a while, admiring surfers, I sat as one
The way they ride the waves and just fall in does look kind of fun
A mother daughter pair spotted, did what I do best
Offered to put my photography skills to the test
Vacationing, they must be, grateful and nice
Even crossed their path, not once, but twice
Walk the boardwalk, I decided to wander, beautiful day
Came across an agitated man, “Take a picture” he did repeat say
A little uncomfortable, I did escape
Passed plenty of people in seemingly great shape
I took note of a photographer taking photos of a lady in the sand
He had the perfect pose, positioned his camera in his hand
Decided to walk the pier again
Be back, not sure if or when
Nearing the end of my walk, a man with a backpack and a cane was hobbling in my direction
Given my earlier encounter, my brain was analyzing if safe or in need of protection
It was the harmonica man, I realized a little late
He looked frustrated, so I left my posture open to see if why he would state
A different man, who claimed to be doing the work of God, apparently told him that on the pier he could not stay
Playing music too, he commanded the harmonica man away
I reassured him that a man of God would not be that unwelcoming, that unkind
He seemed to process that, calming as he shared his upset, someone on his side he did find
“Enjoy playing your music in a different place,” I encouraged him as he went
Grateful that I was in his path to hear his story, 2-minutes well spent
Ready for lunch and a little tired too
I left the busy beach scene, glad to have had nothing better to do

Here is a poem about the HB pier that I wrote a while ago:

Huntington Beach street park
Here for that historic landmark
Walk the pier
What do you see, what do you hear?
Ocean waves down below
Plenty of people, don’t know, don’t know
24-year-old healing in rehab
Fisherman awaiting hook grab
Musician trying to make a buck
Surfer says, “The waves don’t suck”
Couples walking hand in hand
Singles averting gaze, sea to sand
Tourists, take a pic
Photographers, capture click
Time capsule replay
That foot traffic, day to day
Step step step
Narratives, yep yep yep
Memories in the making
Some risks worth taking
A well-lit path so that we don’t fall
A steadfast structure that welcomes all