Wander logo

Windows: Slice of LA Life

Thoughts on a mid-February weekend during the pandemic

By Rachel Pieper DeckerPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
1
Photo by Rachel Pieper Decker

The street here is much busier than the one near my new apartment, and even the place I was at prior to that, a house in a cul-du-sac off of a busy freeway exit. Here, next to the Metro Blue Line, we are setting up machines for projects. It’s a location in LA that is most certainly bigger on the inside. The curb appeal is quite low for most structures in this area, but that can’t be helped with Los Angeles’ version of the L as well as one of the busiest freeways in the country across the street.

We are here with masks on. February 2021 is still seeing COVID-19 cases and the bigger cities will take much longer to be “safer” than the smaller towns from which I grew up and attended school; both elementary, high school, undergrad and I’d even say Madison, Wisconsin is a smaller town as I listen to the traffic just a few feet and a wall away from me. I see Instagram posts of friends in those smaller towns; going out to eat, spending time with friends, meeting up for children’s birthday parties and it makes me a little sad and disappointed. Sad because this is how it will spread and continue to spread. Disappointed because I know these individuals are smart people and surely, they understand the risks, but for some reasons or another, cannot continuously apply them daily. Vaccines are not yet available for wide public distribution. I have no conditions that place me in an at-risk category, nor am I old enough to be eligible for a first round of shots. I project it will be July before I am able to receive mine unless I do some sleuthing. I hear there are clinics that may have extra doses at the end of the day and if you call around noon, they will know if there is surplus for a member of the public.

Hopefully, maybe, masks are removed just for the picture. Maybe.

The location, part residence, part warehouse is a tinkerer’s paradise. VR infrastructure is plugged in and set up, a mini bar on the way to the next room over which is a woodshop. Across from that a sewing area. Through the sewing area is a guest bedroom with an impressive tub, but one that hasn’t been used for quite awhile. I have noticed that here in LA. Space is at such a premium that even bathrooms have been used for storage. As long as there is one working shower, it’s all good.

Back outside of the guest room, there is a garage. But calling it just a garage does not do it justice. It currently houses about 7 vehicles in various stages of repair and conversion. Many of these are classics to be upgraded to electric. Requires a complete overhaul of all the moving parts. Heavy duty machinery such as a plasma cutter, metal benders, an industrial CNC as well as smaller tools such as 3D printers and many other accoutrements of these trades. There are paw prints on the dust of the cars where the shop cats have traversed.

Someone on a skateboard rolls down the sidewalk.

Photo by Rachel Pieper Decker

The mid-afternoon light is diffused through the large paned windows of the garage. How many years has this glass stood up to the California sun? The aged and weathered brick shows its tenacity of over 100 years of existence in this structure, along with the massive wooden beams. Reinforcements and skylights have been added over the years. It was a former light bulb factory, if I recall correctly.

The discussion in the room is surrounding the installation of a laser cutter and the software needed to interface with it. SketchUp, Inkscape, Illustrator, Fusion 360 and GCode are all being thrown around as well as SVG, DXF and raster versus vector.

This isn’t completely above my head, but they aren’t programs or concepts I deal with regularly. I’m enjoying the passive participation and the extreme juxtaposition of the location, pondering the passage of time, the minds that have created here and are continuing to create. The shop cat sits nearby. The sun is low in the sky and the Metro above hums on above us, sliding by and casting a dark shadow across the room. It's a slow type of hustle, constant progress and just another weekend day in LA.

america
1

About the Creator

Rachel Pieper Decker

Displaced Minnesotan in Southern California.

Gamer, streamer, fiber arts enthusiast, Web3 dabbler, aspiring Notary Public

Connect with me: twitter.com/HyperZenGirl * twitch.tv/HyperZenGirl

Affiliate links: https://linktr.ee/HyperZen

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.