FIELD NOTE // FN-023 | LOCATION: MICRO AMPHITHEATER , Lake Merritt | DATE: 2026-01-24
Micro-Waves
There is a lot on the mind these days. The specter of war, the fragility of life, it all fights for space in our heads.
But here, the only battle is the wind against the water.
I’m sitting at the lake, watching the ducks ride the micro-waves. The concrete amphitheaters are full of life—families, couples, solo thinkers, all soaking up a cloudless Oakland afternoon.
It’s easy to forget, but Lake Merritt is a massive flex. A wildlife sanctuary in the middle of an urban grind. A central hub that has survived bad eras, endless construction, and changing tides to become this.
The reflection on the water is a directive: Stay in the moment. Moments are fleeting, but this peace is real. In a loud world, Oakland knows how to offer a quiet, golden silence.
