Holidays in La Jolla

by Councilman Scott Peters
December 2003

After reading last week’s La Jolla Light that featured local kids giving thanks for everything from their parents, baseball, turkey, a pumpkin and an ant, it made me think about all of the wonderful things we have to be thankful for here in our community of La Jolla. I am thankful for my wonderful family and for being able to represent a beautiful, giving and energetic community like La Jolla. The holidays in La Jolla are always a special time, and this year’s wildfire tragedies have made many of us reflect on the importance of family, friends, and community.

I am thankful for all the La Jollans who showed up three weeks ago at the recreation center to donate clothes, furniture, food, and money to the victims of the wildfires. The outpouring of support from the community showed La Jolla to be a truly caring and compassionate town. Many thanks to the people at La Jolla Presbyterian Church who helped to organize the event and have been continuing to work with victims of the fires to provide ongoing care and support. If you are interested in helping with their ongoing work, please contact the church and tell them how you would like to be involved.

La Jolla is a great place to be during the holidays. As I watched surfers at Windansea the other day, I thought back to the cold holidays I spent back east, and thought how amazing it was to be standing by the water on a 70 degree day in December. Weather is not our only gift, however; an inviting village with outstanding shopping, great restaurants and great ambiance make La Jolla a perfect place during the holidays or any part of the year.

During the holidays, the spirit of our community especially shines. As I write this, I look forward to the La Jolla Holiday Parade and the lighting of the tree at the recreation center, because these events bring the entire community together for fun, laughter and conversation. La Jolla is a tight knit community where neighbors can get to know each other. La Jolla’s stories, traditions and history are kept alive by many long time residents and continue to bind our community together as it grows and changes.

That is why I think it is important for us, this time of year, to take stock of all of the wonderful things that we have, and give thanks for and show pride in our community. Throughout the year there is no shortage of disputes about various issues, but it is important to remember that we are all neighbors who must continue to work together to keep our community strong. So when you get stuck in traffic because of a sewer pipe being replaced, or need to dodge construction on your way to surf or swim, please keep your perspective. I look forward to seeing many of you over the holidays and am continually thankful for the wonderful community in which I have chosen to raise my family. La Jolla is a truly blessed community and it is an honor to be your neighbor and serve you on the City Council.