An Alta Journal reader responds to Ask a Californian: “Welcome to California,” by columnists Gustavo Arellano and Stacey Grenrock Woods. Got something to say? We’d love to hear from you! Email letters@altaonline.com. Please include your name, city, state, and phone number so we can contact you. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.
NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE BAY
Nice try. You guys both seem to think that California starts at the Mexican border and ends somewhere around Santa Barbara. I left Los Angeles a long time ago, but I’m still a third-generation licensed, certified Californian. My family has now been here for five generations, and I’m here to tell you that I think it would be very smart of you if you included Northern California (and even Central California) in your conversations. I’ve lived up north for many years, and I’m still in awe when I drive from the rolling hills of Sonoma County through the beautiful Marin open spaces and waterways, then around the curve to the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. What a scintillating sight!
There’s nothing quite like that in Los Angeles; as the place of my birth, however, I still love it for what it is. But even with its well-documented problems, I love San Francisco and the Bay Area with a passion.
We have two of the coolest cities in the world here, but L.A. is not California, just an interesting part of it. If you aren’t familiar with the northern part of the state, come on up and see for yourselves. Here’s to broadening our perspectives (mine too—I can be pretty provincial) to include the whole, beautiful state we live in.
Lindee Reese
Cotati, California
May 28, 2024•
