FIELD NOTE // FN-006 | LOCATION: LAKESHORE, OAK | DATE: 2025-08-10
Undeniably Orange
It was a pop of undeniable orange that first caught my eye.
I was taking the long way home, choosing the path that runs alongside the apartment buildings on the west side of Lake Merritt. Ahead, the iconic Scottish Rite Temple stood stoically, watching over the lake's buzzing inhabitants. My own focus, however, was miles away, lost in the laughter of two podcast hosts in my ears.
That's when the orange—and a question—pulled me back to the present.
"What is the photographer taking pictures of?"
The voice came from the bench where the color emanated. I hesitated, caught off guard. "What was that?" I asked, pulling out an earbud.
She repeated her question, a gentle curiosity in her tone. "What is the photographer taking pictures of?"
"Ooh," I smiled, "I do street photography. It’s a little bit of everything and the kitchen sink."
Her name was Julie. She spoke about the "West Edge Summer Opera Festival" happening at the nearby Scottish Rite Temple, sharing how one of the operas had struck her in a profound new way upon a repeated viewing. The conversation flowed easily, moving from art to life and back again. She was not just an academic discussing art, but someone who truly lived it, with a passion for articulating her impressions.
It wasn't until she handed me her card as we parted ways that I realized the full context of our chat. I had stumbled into a conversation with a local legend without even knowing it.
I wouldn’t dare attempt to paraphrase an author of her caliber; her insights deserve their own platform. But I will forever cherish our brief conversation that Saturday afternoon—a moment of warmth and genuine openness from a remarkable person, shared with a stranger just passing through her space.
