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The views expressed herein are the personal views of each individual author or commenter and are not intended to reflect the views of The Ojai Post or its Authors, Tribal Core or Tyler Suchman as managing editor.

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4:30am in Ojai

I'm usually out the door by 4:30am for a walk through downtown Ojai. I leave the family in bed happily dreaming as I walk out the door. It's amazing how different the town is at that hour. No matter how foggy or cloudy it can be at 7:00am, it is almost always perfectly clear at 4:30am. The stars look so bright, especially on nights like tonight when there is no moon. In the winter, you can hear the fans going in the orange grove as if they are right in town. People have their routines, just like me.

The man who fills the newspaper racks is usually out making his rounds. The donut shop at Fitzgerald Plaza usually has several cars coming and going. A couple days a week, the street cleaner is making her way up and down Ojai Ave. as the sports car zooms into Chevron to open up shop at 5:00. Bagels are being delivered to Ojai Coffee Roasting Company, just left on the sidewalk, and the security guard at The Oaks is out for a smoke. On occasion, I walk on Matilija behind the Arcade, and see the retired men opening up Diaz's Bakery. We sure do love our routines. The newest change to the early morning walk is the Oak Tree Bakery at Fox St. It is dark outside and from the sidewalk you can see the baker in white under the fluorescent lights mixing dough for the morning croissants. And, for those times of the month when the moon is full, seeing the Topa Topas can be a real treat. Our Valley is beautiful day and night and I just wanted to share a little about a time when most of us are fast asleep. By 5:00am, I'm back at home in the shower and when I leave for work at 6:30am our little downtown is a very different place. I'm happy our family was finally able to make Ojai home.

Posted by Kenley Neufeld on April 18, 2007 10:16 PM | | | 4:30am in Ojai

Comments (5)

WONDERFUL writing!Namaste, a thousand salutations!

Comment #1 Posted by: Suza | April 19, 2007 07:17 AM

It's so cool to hear from another who saw, felt and appreciated the experience that is Ojai before dawn. I too took those same walks, leaving just a few doors down from Kenley. I'm glad that you and Leslie and those beautiful children of yours are a part of Ojai.

Comment #2 Posted by: Dana and Alyeska-kg6amv@yahoo.com | April 19, 2007 07:47 AM

Thank you, Kenley, for this enchanting feel-good story. We need more like this. (And thanks for the donation!)

Comment #3 Posted by: Lisa Snider | April 19, 2007 09:17 AM

no wonder you're so serene all the time! xox

Comment #4 Posted by: Leslie Davis | April 19, 2007 02:37 PM

So, it's not ghosts that come out during the wee hours like I thought...

Comment #5 Posted by: Anonymous | April 20, 2007 10:35 AM

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