It is a clear night, if we’re lucky, and we can see the hazy lights casting from the skyscrapers to my backyard, but that isn’t enough. We’ll drive past the scandalous liquor and lingerie stores that we feared as kids on Ventura Boulevard to Laurel Canyon.  Turning to go into the canyon, the excitement begins.  We are following the glows that are cast from the glamour of the city. Our car comes to a stop as we hit Mulholland Drive.  We make a sudden decision to turn right.  Our car coasts freely around the curvy road that seems to resemble the rebellion and freedom of Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde. 

We pull over to one of the lookout points to fathom the sea of lights and the decades of stories that illuminate them. As the warm wind blows, we light up a smoke and pass it around while listening to the timeless sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and The Beatles.  There is a city of millions below us, but right now we are the only ones that matter. The rush of media, the fractured dreams of inspiring artists, the problems of celebrities that have too much money and the “success” of corporate millionaires are nowhere in sight.  Some say that it is a city of disappointment, but we’re doing just fine. 

After a few minutes, we jump in the car and head down the hill.  We stop to get a midnight snack at Henry’s Tacos and then separate to go home.  We take the 101 to the 405.  Once my brother and I get home, I go out to my porch again and stare at the lights.  For tonight, the lights were enough.  There was no need to go into the city; maybe it would disappoint us.  Maybe the city is not as great as we imagine.  However, we wouldn’t know because we’re separated by the hill.  The glamour that is cast over the mountain is enough to make us hopeful.

We are living our dreams through the illumination over the hill.  The glimpse of glamour is just enough.  The mystery holds our desire.  One day, we’ll explore the other side of the hill.  We’ll see if it is what we want.  It may work out for some of us and won’t for others.  But it is the dream that keeps us so anxious.  The possibility of success is just a few miles away.  If it doesn’t work out, we’ll come back to the valley.  At least we know that we’ll feel comfortable.  We’ll leave the entertainment industry behind and become doctors or lawyers or something.  But for now, it is all about the dream.