Making Out in the Surf (Part 2)

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Continuation of Part 1: Making Out in the Surf (Life as Baywatch)

So, I moved to Los Angeles…..

I lived with my friend in her studio apartment, where I slept on her couch…..and broke all of her dishes because “they were so slippery when I was trying to wash them” (very patient friend!)…eventually moving into the cheapest apartment I could find. It was only $450, AND it had a pool where I could swim laps. “Laps” might be an exaggeration. The pool was about 15 meters across, so really this was me pushing off one side and arriving at the other…. Repeat…. and it must have been a sight to see, because lacking the funds for new pool goggles, I swam “laps” with scuba goggles and a snorkel.

I rollerbladed down the palm lined streets and hummed David Hasselhoff’s theme song as I drove down the 10. BUT, I also sat in hours of traffic to get to the palm lined streets; I played crappy gigs on Wednesday’s at 12:30am; my keyboard was stolen out of my car; I was double booked; not paid; fell while rollerblading; experimented with “Coke” (-a-cola) as the remedy for everything in order to avoid the cost of going to the doctor (though I had $200/month insurance which seemed only to cover the cost of my coffin should I need one); I did not rescue anyone from the jaws of the Pacific; and, as it turns out, making out in the surf was not all that comfortable. Full of surprises, wonder AND the mundane, life keeps teaching me that it is different than my fantasy…..sometimes better, sometimes not. And it contains much more daily than an episode of Baywatch.

It’s fascinating to explore the dissonance between life on the “big screen” of my mind, and how life plays out in the “real world”; between “should be” and all that actually “is”. I have struggled with, and am learning to live with the seeming limits of my power and reach, slowly realizing that I can’t solve all the problems of the world, and actually, often have my hands full with the arena of my daily life.

While I may not be the super hero I imagined being as a child, while my life may not look like the romantic comedies so often seen on TV, and while I may not be saving lives every day like the Baywatch lifeguards…I am here. I keep showing up for the life lessons. In the process of being “present” in my life, I have discovered that magic and super powers DO exist, but on a much different scale and in much subtler ways and that we “save” each other every day….in smiles, and kisses, and generous hearts, and compassion, and singing, and dancing, and expression, and love, and open minds, and in our own ways, and, and, and…..this is the story of my song “Differently”. (Can’t figure out how to stream it on this page, but you can Download it here.)

And, let’s be honest, when the cameras weren’t rolling, probably some of the people on Baywatch drowned. They couldn’t save everyone.

Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

36 thoughts on “Making Out in the Surf (Part 2)”

    1. Kat Post author

      Thansk Dennis! I’m looking forward to seeing you guys too -it’s been too long since I’ve played in Jackson! xoxo

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  4. Julie Parsons

    Kat, I love your wisdom. I agree so totally with your thoughts and the way you have found to make peace with reality and see its wonder and grace as well as how bad it can suck sometimes!

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  5. daniel

    I just wanted you to know I actually read this – both parts – and it is very nice. Feels warm and true. Good for you on your path. Continued growth and blessing I am sure are unfolding. Hope I get to take in a show sometime. Maybe I can play a song for you, too.

    peace,

    d

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  6. Debbie Shafer

    Kat,
    Loved it. You are a true inspiration to me and others.
    Thank you for your words of wisdom.

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  7. Andy Leon

    Very well written and insightful – I really enjoyed reading these! I may be in L.A. this summer so I hope I can catch a gig.
    – Andy from our mutual Asian travels

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    1. Kat Post author

      Thanks Andy! Yes, you’ll have to come to LA and rollerblade along the palm lined streets and hear some music!!

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  8. Charley

    I didn’t watch Baywatch when it came out because I was already living the fantasy in Hawaii. 🙂 I can confirm that you can love or hate your life no matter where you live or what you’re doing. I’m going to love mine in good ol’ Sacramento!

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    1. Kat Post author

      Hey Charley, I didn’t watch Baywatch when it came out either, because it was so long ago, but should you ever be interested, you can occasionally catch re-runs! 🙂 And there’s a lot to love re: your life- way to go!

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  9. Jodi

    I love this – I think everyone who moves to LA has a particular picture of who they are going to be when there. The ones who survive LA without becoming embittered are those, like you, who see life as this wild and completely unexpected journey full of all sorts of things we could never have imagined (or wanted!) – and that, in the end, we’re better for all the unexpectedness.

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  10. Carrie

    oh Kat! I love this. you are a very good writer. and I relate to every thing you said here. you are so wonderful. thanks for showing us that it’s okay to be happy with reality…

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  12. katie

    Who knew that such wisdom could be found in baywatch! It took me lots of years to figure out what you just said! I’m comforted and inspired.

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  14. Julie

    Dear Kat, I love this blog entry. Your message to all of us is one of hope and wonder – so positive and refreshing in this day and age of cynicism. Keep smiling and singing and loving – keep being beautiful. This is your irreplaceable role and you are playing it with grace and humor. You are changing the world. Bravo!

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  15. Tom

    Kat,
    Thanks for reminding me how old I am – “I didn’t watch Baywatch when it came out either, because it was so long ago.” I wrote something, years ago, that I think falls right in line with the vision you had. I only have a “poor man’s copyright” on it, so I’ll refrain from posting it in public, for now. I’ll send it to you, check your inbox.

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  16. Evelyn Alexander

    I love the song. And given the way you started this post I thought you were going to say that you were going to be leaving LA. Which would have made me sad. Now I am off to save someone …..or to clean off my desk.

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  17. Tina

    Wow!! This was very inspirational!! I love your words “I am here”. How very true that is….no matter what we are going through I am here. I keep showing up everyday putting one foot in front of the other and holding on to the fact that things will get better! Thanks for sharing this Kat!! If you ever make it out east this fan will be there!

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    1. Kat Post author

      Tina, it is so great to hear from you – thanks for sharing your thoughts- I love reading them! I am still in awe of how you sang “Aint Nobody”…..

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  18. AudacityRocks

    “Differently” is one of my favorites on this album, Kat. Great meaningful lyrics! It tells us to keep our sanity when life wants to take its own course or run at its own pace!

    “… I have struggled with, and am learning to live with the seeming limits of my power and reach, slowly realizing that I can’t solve all the problems of the world, … when the cameras weren’t rolling, probably some of the people on Baywatch drowned. They couldn’t save everyone.”

    So true, Kat, and neither can any one of us. Not even Superman can save fifteen thousand people in a tsunami unless he tampers with the timeline. The ever-increasing world of instant connectivity could numb us so much that we may lose some of our compassion towards others and our ability to act within our means when the occasion arises, be it five thousand miles away (by changing channels) or right in front of us (by pretending not to see). Perhaps the power of social media may help bring focus on more seemingly hopeless social problems collectively?

    Keep writing great lyrics 😀
    xoxo

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    1. Kat Post author

      Dear Audacity Rocks, I am so glad to hear the thoughts and lyrics resonate with you. Accepting that Superman can’t save everyone has been an interesting journey! 🙂 I love what you are saying and I love the idea of us all being connected in compassion and hope. Kat

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