The Sunset Restaurant & Bar, Malibu 6/9/15

It's a happy Fall like Minnesota day here in the 'Valley' with light rain, mild humidity, and the likely chance of sun in the afternoon. It's early...like 6:45 AM, and I was up at sunrise. Presently, I'm watching the rain in a West Lake Village Starbucks. I couldn't quite get my mind to quiet enough to continue to sleep, so I thought I'd write about my happy hour experience at The Sunset bar and restaurant. This swanky place is located at Zuma beach in Malibu just before you would enter the 'pay lots' to park for a day of fun in the sun. You can park on the street depending on the day, but it's usually pretty full at sunset with people waiting...for the sun to dip. Just before the sun sets on Zuma, the sky lights up in various colors of red on a normal night, but last night, it was thick with fog or cloud cover making it easy to park right out front this place. It was 6:30ish PM when I walked into what could only be described as a scene out of an Polo Ralph Lauren commercial.

Lounging around the area were a bunch of gals. Most of them were dress-casual as in just out of a Polo shoot or something. Others, seemed they had just made it in for the $5 cocktail and appetizers from the beach or the neighborhood. A few men hovered (always hovering) around the seating areas while a couple of other more mature ladies made small talk with people around them. Everyone, at least for  moment, took notice of us as we walked up to the bar counter. Apparently lots of  'famous' people walk into the place. I guess! LOL. After politely wiggling a chair into place, I ordered a clam chowder and a couple of drinks. My drink of choice is usually Jameson & Seven when it's available, but I'm happy with whatever is on happy hour special too! Cause let's face it, that's why you walk into some places...the specials..or their specialties on special for those very few hours. Here, at The Sunset, happy hour started at 3:00 and went till close! WT...! I smiled. There was no need to rush. Somehow that was a relief! I made small talk with my guest and the people that sat immediately our right and left; a younger couple that had clearly started happy hour much sooner than we had and trying to establish who was a local and a few mature folks just enjoying the day out of work. It was a good choice after a draining day in the sun, waiting for the Geek Squad to tell me how much it was gonna cost me to recreate my lost Quickbook files, and planning my upcoming move into what might be a more regular place to live if I don't just leave the country all together.

 As I spoke, my thoughts drifted onto the street as a few runners went by. The days when I had also done the same, run by the restaurant, hadn't passed by too long ago. Their memory still seemingly fresh, and got a bit giddy about it...that I had made it...to California....finally.

"You're from Minnesota?!" I heard on my left, "Yes. I am." Turning slightly to acknowledged the woman talking to my guest. "I drove out here last week to take on a new corporate job...at least for a while to feel them out." We laughed because she was also from the Midwest. It was part of the normal conversation strangers have when chit chatting at happy hour. Like most conversations at happy hour, the themes revolve around basic things like, "How long are you gonna be here? What have you done here for fun? You should check out.....!" And out come the series of recommendations of things you should do or invitations to place you might be interested in, but that wasn't the case because of my guest. I suppose people assumed we were together...But no. So, we just talked..all of us. We talked about music, the Eagles, and Don Henley. We yapped about the best venues to see shows at and which were the upcoming "must see" shows. Yes. A lot of small talk that was fun, interesting, and mildly relieving from thinking about the work day.

Eventually when my clam chowder showed up, which seemed instantly, I started to think. Or, rather, I started to remember things. I thought I might be able to come back with another person and shoot the shit much as I was then. Or, even come back on my own and take my chances at 'fitting in' and becoming a regular, which I've learned is the secret behind the law of familiarity. It's the law that says if you see someone or something regularly you unconsciously drop your defenses to them or it just enough to experience them or it differently. This is when conversations start. This is when phone numbers are exchanged and invitations made. The law of familiarity....I'll write about that sometime because it's key in human relationships. So I thought...until the woman sitting to our left said, "I think you got my soup!" We laughed. "Really?! LOL. Well, I'll tell ya, your soup is very good!" We all laughed and the bartender turned red with mild embarrassment realizing she 'missed' putting in the woman's order.

When the experience was over, we left to get hit by the cold ocean air. It was still fresh smelling and, apart from the actual ocean, the weather was exactly like a Fall or Spring day in Minnesota. Then the drive up the 'hill' to get to my home to pass out only to get up today to enjoy the rain, the cool weather, and some familiar things to do. It's haircut and gym-time day. I'm feeling optimist for dumb reasons, but that's better than feeling other things! That's the news from a Midwest guy in the land of milk and honey....one at least! LOL.