The Feeling of Being Home

Last week, I attended a meeting at the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District, as I often do, and I was approached by someone there who thanked me for the Christmas lights at our Wastewater Treatment Facility. This person told me that he enjoyed seeing the lights on his nightly commute and that they gave him the feeling of being home. Though the lights are temporary, they serve as a bit of a landmark for him, and maybe some others, that indicate they can relax and enjoy this great place we call Tehachapi.

There are other great landmarks in our town, some that might mean something to you individually. Maybe it’s the water tower in downtown that has become iconic for our small mountain city. For some, it’s the Loop, or the SS Minnow, or the Depot, or the lights of Lehigh Cement. For me, it’s a concrete pipe on the north side of Highline Rd, just after you begin heading west from Willow Springs Rd. That pipe has a smaller pipe protruding out of it to the north and a black smile painted underneath. I hope it’s past the statute of limitations so that I can tell you that my dad spray painted that smile back in 1972, and every time I pass that landmark I’m reminded that I’m home.

As Christmas approaches, I hope that you’re warmed by the thought of coming home to Tehachapi. Even if you’re a new resident, I’ll bet you already have a landmark that stands out to you, and I hope that as Tehachapi inevitably continues to grow and change, you’ll at least see our beautiful mountains and remember that despite the daily changes and pressures of this world, that you’re home.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As always, if you ever have any questions about our work at the City of Tehachapi, please don’t hesitate to contact me at City Hall at (661) 822-2200 or contact me via e-mail at [email protected] .