𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑠

letting the days go by, let the water hold me down. letting the days go by, water flowing underground into the blue again. jess hinkley. twenty six. native of catalina island. trail guide at the wrigley memorial. she/they.

[jesshinkleyblog]

who: @masonhcrtley​ where: outside mason’s apartment in lafayette square when: noon on jess’ day off

With the sun beating down on Jess’ nose and cheeks (which always burned first and so, so quickly) and Mason’s dial tone ringing incessantly in her ear, she was what she considered to be reasonably impatient. It had nothing to do with the gorgeous, baby blue classic convertible, in which she was parked outside Mason’s apartment, missing from her friend’s (father’s) garage. “Hey! Get your ass outside,” Jess demanded when Mason answered his phone, badly holding back her laughter and excitement. Bad decisions followed Jess wherever they went, and rather than maturing with age, it seemed as though Jess was only finding more excuses to misbehave as time went on. When an opportunity arose, they just wouldn’t be able to live with themself if they didn’t give it all they had.

It was unusual to see Jess behind the wheel of a car – rather than the wheels of her longboard or on roller skates behind someone’s bike, for Christ’s sake – especially considering that she’d never owned a car in her life. But if it was strange to see her driving, it was beyond the realm of logical sense, seeing her behind the wheel of a vehicle as fine as the one she had most certainly illegally parked. Fire hydrants be damned. “Have you ever seen a more beautiful car?” she asked, standing up in the convertible and spreading out her arms to signify the magnitude of the situation. “Someone just left a 1968 Cadillac Deville in their garage while I house sit for them. Can you believe that? Just left it there. What are you waiting for?”

[jesshinkleyblog]

eli hinkley:

Elijah Hinkley cannot stop pacing. He has a stomach ache, and he tries drinking some water, but it’s not making anything better. Jess is coming over, and he knows feeling pressure is something he’s mentally tricking himself into. Is he even coming out? He feels stupid, because this is not some huge deal, and Jess would obviously be supportive, and overjoyed. But after having Jess come out, twice, to him, he feels like this a big moment. This is the biggest moment he has to have, with this news. He could ditch his friends, if they weren’t supportive. But he couldn’t ditch Jess. Jess was family.

He tried turning some music on, to calm his nerves, but nothing seemed to hit right. He just needed Jess to show up, so he could get this whole show on the road. And hopefully not throw up in the process. Knowing it would take Jess some time, he used his spare time to make some guacamole. Cooking was the only thing that would truly settle him, and besides. His avocados were getting really ripe, anyways.

Once the avocados were mashed, the onions and tomatoes diced, and everything was spiced, he added it all to a bowl. He set up some chips on the side, and then sat, twiddling his thumbs, until he heard a knock.

The path to Eli’s place from their own was one Jess knew by heart. The longboard ride there felt like going home, just as much as the ride to her own home after work did now or the bus ride home after school did when they all lived under one roof. If there was any doubt that Jess was at home, their old Jansport and dirty Chuck Taylors hitting the living room floor the moment they came barreling in after they knocked cleared that right up. Even now, with worry on their mind every step of the way, they were the same slob they’d always been. 

The door swung shut behind Jess and they made a beeline for their brother, wrapping their arms around him before saying a word. “What is going on with you?” she asked, pulling away and holding his forearms so she could look him in the eye. “Are you okay? Why– Wait, did you make guacamole?”

The bowl next to them caught Jess’ attention, but what were they supposed to do? It was Eli’s homemade guacamole. A chip and some stolen guac made its way to Jess’ mouth, but they paused before taking the bite. “I can wait. You just tell me what’s going on,” they insisted, not at all waiting before eating the chip.

[jesshinkleyblog]

who: @harperxnorwood​ where: jess’ bungalow in lafayette square when: after jess’ house show, 11pm on saturday

Every year when May hit and Jess could start to feel the summer creeping in, their spirit turned absolutely electric; like a live wire. Even as the days got longer, it was as if there couldn’t be enough hours to do everything that Jess had planned, let alone everything they wanted to do. All of that pent up energy had gotten them into trouble for most of their life, but there were certain outlets that helped. Playing live shows – especially with her own band and not some rando band who needed a drummer last minute – helped the most. No matter how small the venue, or house in this and most cases, Jess left the show feeling more whole than before. The frenzied feeling subsided and she was able to simply enjoy.

“I fucking knew I saw you out there!” Jess shrieked as they came running from behind their drums after toweling off the sweat that came with playing all night, bypassing everyone and anyone who’d normally be telling her ‘good show’ to run straight into Harper’s arms. The Norwood sisters were two of Jess’ favorite people on this Earth and seeing her in their home, no less, only added to the high of their afterglow. “You came to our show! I can’t believe you came to our show,” they practically sang, hugging Harper and swaying back and forth out of sheer excitement.

[jesshinkleyblog]

who: @theodora--clark​ where: near the catalina chimes tower in avalon when: just before twilight

“I swear to god, I’m not gonna let you ruin the surprise,” Jess announced, turning to face her companion on this trek. For once in their life, they hadn’t picked a four hour-long intermediate level hike, but a long walk through Avalon that had ended just across the road from the Catalina Chimes Tower. Nearly every nook and cranny of the island housed some special memory – often just a rush of familiarity they couldn’t quite pinpoint – and while Jess had many an afternoon wandering the Tower, it was the hill on the other side of the dirt road across from the tower that really sparked nostalgia.

It wasn’t often that Jess’ mother was able to leave the house in the years before she passed, but that hadn’t stopped her from planning a handful of the most stunning adventures Jess had ever been on. It hadn’t stopped her from doing a lot of things people told her not to do, in fact, and it was no secret that Jess had proudly followed in her footsteps. No one else had ever been able to match their mother’s effortless ability to make everything seem okay when it wasn’t. The memory pulled at Jess’ heart, even fifteen years later, but the smile that they flashed Thea when they reached the bottom of the hill wasn’t sad; wasn’t bittersweet. There was only fondness in those eyes.

“I promise it’s not too steep. Here–” Jess insisted, holding out their hand for Thea to take for balance. The final stretch up the side of the hill was lit by the last of the stars as they appeared in the night sky and revealed the flat spot at the top just big enough for a late night picnic. Jess produced a massive thermos and a thick, woven blanket from their backpack, laying the blanket out with their usual flourish. “Viola! Now, it’s no five-star restaurant, but I only make my peppermint hot chocolate for special occasions, and it is Michelin recommended. Plus, spoiler alert, there are more than five stars out here.”

[jesshinkleyblog]

bethany matthews:

when: late evening where: le rouge who: OPEN,  @catalinastarter​

“Oh my God! Where were you, you should have been here five minutes ago!” Bethany called out over the music, grabbing the other by their arm as she looked behind her. With the smoke from the smoke machines and the flickering lights, Bethany had no idea she hadn’t just grabbed her friend, who was passed out on the toilet right now, but someone else entirely, kind of making it very hard to see the difference in the otherwise comparable features. “There was this guy here just now – an obvious tourist let me tell you that. He tried to put up this enormous macho act, to impress this group of girls he fancied or something, anyway anyway!” Bethany already laughed out loud thinking about it. “So he did a backflip, hit someone straight in the side with his legs, and the drinks went flying over the group of girls. It was the best thing I have seen in a VERY long time!” 

“Oh shit,” Jess exclaimed, at first in reaction to the sudden physical contact. It was the club, after all, and a certain amount of personal boundaries were bound to be broken The recounting of the tale turned Jess’ bubbly, tipsy grin into a giddy, amused mess and a second, more emphatic “oh shit” followed quickly after the woman’s story ended. Every twist and turn of the story rightfully delighted Jess to no end, and they found themself cackling at the macho tourist’s misfortune. “Please tell me someone Kodak’d that moment, LAD Bible is on the edge of their seat. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sound exactly like one of my friends, though. I might be lying if I said that didn’t sound like me sometimes. Shit, I shouldn’t do a backflip, right?”

[jesshinkleyblog]

To: Jess 👽💚

Eli: Jess.. put a bandage on it.

Eli: It will get infected don't DO this

Eli: I literally haven't gone on a date since I was eighteen

Eli: you were so young then

Eli: PLEASE COME OVER I can't do this over text there's so much more to this and I need to pace

Jess: you didn't need a girlfriend, you had two girls who were WAY cooler

Jess: or have you been LYING TO ME my whole life??

Jess: NO PACING

Jess: i'm coming over, don't start pacing without me!

[jesshinkleyblog]

To: Jess 👽💚

Eli: please tell me it's bandaged

Eli: um um ummmm

Eli: might have... gone on a date?

Jess: come on, i washed it! it's good

Jess: got it airing out in the hole in my jeans. that's science

Jess: but for real, what's your thing?

Jess: p sure it's more likely that i'm pregnant, dude

[jesshinkleyblog]

To: Jess 👽💚

Eli: Jess I swear to god

Eli: I mean... I don't believe in god

Eli: shit

Eli: I swear ... I swear to David Byrne, okay?

Eli: he's like our god, right?

Eli: NO

Eli: nothing is wrong with Kenzie

Eli: and jesus nothing is wrong with you I hope???

Eli: I'm going through a... thing

Eli: I need... advice? Support? Love? Compassion?

Jess: give us this day our daily shred 🤘

Jess: nothing is wrong with me! i fucked up my knee camping, but it's just scraped up. s'all good

Jess: OH MY BYRNE

Jess: this ain't about me, bro!! tell me your thing already!

[jesshinkleyblog]

To: Jess 👽💚

Eli: Jess...

Eli: We need to talk.

Eli:

Eli: oh my god that sounded so serious, sorry

Eli: it's not that deep

Eli: Well I mean it sort of is

Eli: Please answer me

Eli: JESS

Jess: oh fuck, am i pregnant???

Jess: no, that's not possible...

Jess: JESUS HARVEY CHRIST

Jess: it's not kenzie, is it????

Jess: i will bundy every teenage boy in this town, i swear to GOD

Jess: ELI

[jesshinkleyblog]

eli hinkley:

Eli was properly freaking out. Since the power had gone out for most of the island, he had clearly been checking in with his family. He first reached his father… and it was just so that they had power at the restaurant - which meant the next day would be spent making more food for the rest of the island. Guy had reassured Eli that Kenzie was safe at home, but he had facetimed her anyhow, as he made sandwiches to bring to the high school. But Jess wasn’t to be traced, and though Eli had tuned out his anxiety for most of the evening, as the hour neared midnight, with no response, he felt what could only be described as a heart attack, coming on. 

He had left about 8 voicemails, and 20 texts. Was he overreacting? Almost definitely. But who could blame him? Jess was probably his favorite person on Earth, and though they had grown into their own, Eli still felt suitably responsible for them. He grabbed his phone, keys and wallet, and made sure he had a flashlight on him as well. He ran to his car, zooming over to their place. He parked, jogging up to the door. “Jess, so help me god, you better be in there. Please be in there.”

@jesshinkley​

Considering that actions speak louder than words, the first thing Jess did during the Great Catalina Island Power Outage was probably very telling of who they were as a person. After a cursory text to Kenzie to make sure she and their pops were going to be okay, Jess started work on an edit of the 1963 hit “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris that replaced the iconic intro with the words “black out!” instead. By the time their maniacal laughter sounded just right, they got it uploaded to their Soundcloud, and they sent it out to their friends, their phone’s battery was completely dead. The kind of dead where the flashing ‘dead battery’ icon didn’t show up anymore when they pressed the power button.

It certainly hadn’t helped that she’d spent the better part of the afternoon Facetiming with the dudes she’d been playing drums with ”temporarily” while their regular drummer was teaching English in Korea... for the last four months. They couldn’t help it if wordplay and surf rock were Jess’ weaknesses. For a considerable amount of time afterward, they scoured the house for their portable battery packs, but most of them were missing and the ones they actually found were all dead. C’est la vie, they figured. The rest of the day had been spent dropping in on friends, making new ones in the chaos of the blackout, and keeping people’s minds off the state of emergency.

Even without their phone and in the pitch black, their brain didn’t seem to be shutting off, and when Jess heard the door, they were reading a book they’d picked up the week before. The light of the giant Maglite that was usually part of their hiking pack made a perfect replacement for lamplight and as they walked to the door, confused more than anything, they thought it would make a good weapon if it was robbers. Their inner Kevin McCallister never rested. “Jesus, Eli! You scared the shit out of me, I thought you were someone coming to loot my Pog collection,” they explained, flinging the door open wider and gesturing their brother into the dark bungalow with their still-lit flashlight. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

[jesshinkleyblog]

who: @wolfeharwen​ where: wolfe’s house in ventura when: saturday, april 18th, late afternoon

Like damn near every door that had the misfortune of crossing Jess Hinkley’s path, the front door at Wolfe’s place was about to be subjected to the percussive ramblings of the attention-deficit, hyperactive child that Jess truly was. Their drumsticks rapped against the door a lot longer than was necessary, but if anybody asked, she’d tell them there was good cause. It was entirely necessary if she was going to reach him all the way through that big ass house. Fondly, of course. They probably wouldn’t mention the favor they’d had to pull to get a ride out to Ventura (they doubted Wolfe would want to skateboard all the way back to Lafayette Square) or the bass player patiently waiting in the van in the driveway. The funky beat only stopped when Wolfe opened up, but it was superseded by Jess’ face lighting up at the sight of him.

“Hey! Sorry to drop by unannounced. I’d text or somethin’, but my phone has been dead all day,” they admitted, laughing bashfully at their own ineptitude. Lack of preparation, really. The drumsticks clacked together as they moved them to one hand, gesturing as they normally did. “I’m setting up an acoustic concert in Lafayette Square near the bungalow since the power is out. The people are bored. I was hoping you’d be interesting in stopping by and playing with us! A couple of dudes from the bands in town already said they’re down, it should be a riot.”

[jesshinkleyblog]

who: @theodora--clark​ where: thea’s aunt catherine’s estate in ventura when: friday, april 17th, near dusk

While the whole of the island gathered in collective panic, Jess had a one track mind fully focused on something else. Catalina had been “dark” all day, a first in their lifetime, and they’d been waiting just as long for the chance to play out a dream of their. It was just as well, considering it took half the afternoon to piece together where their old friend was staying. The moment the sun started to slip below the horizon, Jess made a beeline for Thea’s aunt’s house.

In high school, most of Jess’ antics were confined to the school and surrounding grounds. Their best hijinks were in the classroom, courtyard, and cafeteria, if anything. But there had been a few instances toward the end of their high school careers - right when the threat of college taking Thea started to loom - that called for something a little bigger. After letting their backpack fall to the green ground with a thud, Jess took to climbing the tallest of the immaculate trees near the house. It brought them just close enough to stretch and step out onto the roof of the same level as Thea’s bedroom. God, they hoped it was still Thea’s bedroom.

A quick peak into the window, seemed to confirm that it was the young woman’s room, but in the fading light, Jess still wasn’t entirely sure. Going out on a limb, which was clearly a familiar enough concept to them, they crouched on the roof and tapped on the glass. Their next breath only came when Theodora herself stepped into the frame of the window. “Mind if I come in?” they asked, smirking as if they weren’t steadying themself against the side of the monstrous house 30 feet in the air.

[jesshinkleyblog]

jannik petersen:

Jannik laughed and shook his head the moment Jess apologized. It was though, upon entering their home, Jess felt the need to apologize for the fact that someone lived in it. “This is nothing to worry yourself about, Jess. I have seen much worse. Do not apologize for living here.” He was grateful for their invitation, too. The hike had been amazing and they’d been kind enough to show him around every nook and cranny of Shark harbor. From what he could tell, there was a difficulty level to these things. Nik was never concerned by it; though he was older, he kept himself fit solely for the purposes of not looking slovenly in a business suit. 

It also helped that he lived on an island with views like the ones they had seen today. 

Nik sat himself down heavily in a free chair, head cocking back to call over his shoulder as Jess walked into what he assumed was a kitchen of some sort. “A beer would be good.” Though he didn’t usually drink alcohol after such a long hike, or much at all really, the thought of the cold glass was too appealing to pass up. 

“I may be old but I am not incapable of keeping up, Hinkley. The views were astounding. I will certainly be returning. Now, tell me–” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees to snag a glass for water before taking a drink, “–how did you come to be in a place like this?” 

If persuaded, Jess could probably (and that was imperative) recall a dozen different times they’d gotten themself into trouble drinking too heavily after a lengthy hike. That wasn’t exactly something she advertised to her hikers, but she undoubtedly had applicable experience. There was good reason, detailed in each of those stories, why Jess’ groups stayed so well-hydrated during and after their trips. “This is brewed right here on the island, thus the name Island Hop IPA,” they explained as they opened their beer and settled into the couch kitty-corner to the chair Jannik chose.

Jannik’s comment on his own age made Jess laugh, but she got it. Plenty of the hikers on her tours were plenty older than him, and most of those gentlemen were clearly compensating for something that he didn’t have to worry about. They gestured broadly to the living room; to the plants that lined half of all available surfaces, including the old piano they had painted in the corner and the mess of guitars and small drums that lived alongside it. “I’ve always been here,” Jess insisted, taking a long sip of their beer before cracking and laughing at themself. “My parents moved here to open a restaurant well before I was born, and we never left. Restaurant’s still open, too.”

The question begged elaboration. What was a twenty-six year old doing on the same tiny island they’d spent most of their teenage years doing little but complain about? The drunken boating accident that had derailed Jess’ career - and, in their opinion, their chances of getting out of Catalina - had been in the local news for as long as it held viewers’ attention, and Jess didn’t think they’d ever get used to explaining it. So, for the most part, they didn’t.

“I could ask the same question of you! And I have to imagine it’s a lot more interesting story than mine,” they joked, tilting their bottle in Jannik’s direction.

[jesshinkleyblog]

thea clark:

Thea had always been incredibly charmed by Jess. For as long as they’d orbited each other, Thea had fond feelings for them. The artist had sketch books filled with her crushes face, memories filled with their laughter, their jokes and their antics that always amused her beyond belief in high school. In between the race for perfection and her constant pursuit of originality, Thea had found comfort in Jess’ interest in her. But not just that - Theodora genuinely enjoyed their company like few others. 

“Oh?” She asked, interest present in her eyes and that mischievous glint dimmed; taken place by interest and peace. It wasn’t an emotion that Thea was familiar with feeling but she found it didn’t scare her when it happened; even as rare as it was. Languidly, her body stretched out into a more relaxed position in her chair as she angled towards her friend. “Be careful, Jess,” she sent the woman a daring grin, “I might just take you up on that the next time I leave.” 

“Oh you know me!” She exclaimed proudly, a dashing, blazing smirk twisting her lips. “Always searching for new adventures and reinventing myself.” At least, that was the excuse that she would use for now. If Jess wasn’t aware of her aunt being ill then there was no use in dampening the party, was there? But would Jess actually buy that lame excuse when the girl they remembered dreamed and talked of nothing but the things she’d do the first time she got the chance? 

Normally, Jess would be more than content hugging their knee to their chest and organizing their ideas for adventures with Thea into categories, subcategories, and niches. Isn’t that what they’d always wanted? To gallivant around Catalina and show Thea what they still saw in their little old island, why they stuck around? Something about the way Thea answered their question nagged at the Jess’ brain. “That’s why you left,” they managed, just a tinge of hurt involuntarily tainting their words.

For as long as Jess could remember - and certainly as long as Thea had known them - not much got to them. Used to letting their freak flag fly and spreading their vibes freely, it was hard for Jess to school their emotions when they snuck up on them. Since when did they let anything sneak up on them? “I just meant- I thought Europe meant endless adventures for my favorite explorer.” They paused, pulling their leg close against their chest again.

The smile they reserved for the woman, which was born to go toe to toe with Thea’s fearlessness, softened. “I’m no psychic, and maybe it’s not my business, but something seems... up with you. You doin’ okay?”

[jesshinkleyblog]

— ☆ outgoing sms: jess 🎷🎷

Nadia: One of the moms at Arie's school asked me if I could dress a little 'less provocatively' during pick up today. And told me I should maybe consider 'dressing my age'.

Nadia: If I end up in jail, you know why.

Nadia: Would it be an overreaction if I just...go naked tomorrow? No, not naked, I'm not actually trying to earn a felony. What if I show up in a sports bra and yoga pants instead?

Nadia: Anyway, I have a appointment at 4 tomorrow and my mom's not available to babysit cause Bingo, are you free to babysit?

Jess: I promise to crowdfund your bail. #freenadia

Jess: I'm pretty sure this is the only time that's ever called for a trenchcoat. Like a sexy spy!!

Jess: You'd pull it off, I'd just look like three kids trying to get into a rated R movie.

Jess: I'm free to finish mine and Arie's podcast, if that's what you mean!! Arie is a terrible podcast partner, our schedules never line up and she always shoots down my ideas. She's so lucky she's the talent.

[jesshinkleyblog]

rayna norwood:

Who: @jesshinkley​ Where: A hiking trail somewhere When: Sunday late morning

“I hate you for making me do this. And I hate me for agreeing to do this,” Rayna complained, not for the first time during the hike. She didn’t mean it. At least, she didn’t mean the first part. She did kind of hate herself for agreeing to it. “And I hate my tiny little chicken legs for not being the strong limbs that I need them to be. Can we take a break?” Without waiting for an answer, Rayna plopped down onto a tree root sticking out of the ground, , and promptly fell backwards when she tried to relax, having forgotten about the weight of the pack she was carrying. “I hate everything,” she whined. She laid there, legs still up on the tree root, the rest of her body sprawled across her pack that gravity had thrown to the ground.

She turned her head until her gaze found Jess, aiming a halfhearted glare at them. “Next time, I want ice cream and movies. Or roller skating! I wanna go roller skating. So much more fun than this.” As much as she complained, and as much as her body currently hated her, she loved begin able to spend time with Jess, out doing the things that they loved, even if Rayna didn’t quite understand it. “I’m just gonna lay here. Go on without me.”

Rather than immediately help Rayna up, Jess came and flopped down on the log right beside her, crushing their own pack along the way without a care. They didn’t even bother to try hiding their devilish smile from her. “You know, the only way your baby chicken legs will turn into strong... adult chicken legs is if you keep going on hikes with me,” Jess said, entering singsong territory toward the end there. 

Not one to pass up an opportunity to appreciate something beautiful, they spent a moment just looking up at the trees that lined the path on which they’d taken their old friend. When the moment passed, after a quick breeze shuffled the branches of the trees above them, Jess took Rayna’s hand, tightly intertwining their fingers, and heaved the two of them up into sitting positions. They let go of her hand, reaching out to pluck a leaf that was stuck between the strands of her long hair instead. “Come on. We’ll go to Scoops when we get back, and we’ll go roller skating next weekend. And by then, you’ll be strong, nobody will be able to stop us from skating all night long. Lionel Richie style!”

[jesshinkleyblog]

alycia acosta:

WHO: Aly & @jesshinkley WHEN: Noon WHERE:  The Wrigley Memorial in Avalon. WHY: Aly is given a tour of Catalina by the cutest guide.

After two weeks of riding around Catalina in Ubers and with no hope of her divorce coming to a quick and easy end, Aly rented a car. The Jeep Wrangler was white and had no doors or windows. Which was perfect for the warm, Spring weather Catalina was experiencing. Although not for the cardigan she’d worn. The brunette shed it the moment she step out of the vehicle. If she was sweating now she definitely would be on their hike around the island.

While she waited outside The Wrigley Memorial as instructed by her guide, Aly took a seat on her Jeep’s rear bumper. Her slender, honey hued legs dangled just above the ground, sneaker clad feet grazing the concrete. The guide she booked was another woman. A total babe from her little online AD, but of course that isn’t why Aly picked her. That was just a happy accident. One she was glad for when a little, blonde bob came into view.

Today would be a great day.

“Hi! Jess, right? I’m Alycia, but you can just call me Aly.”

Of all the reasons for Jess to stay in Catalina, the Wrigley Memorial was a rather important one that most people didn’t understand. Until her accident, she’d been a hometown hero in the boring, athletic sense and had garnered some expectations of potential. Choosing to give guided hikes through the botanical gardens absolutely baffled people in town like her father, who still saw her as a seventeen year old kid breaking school records and dreaming about the summer Olympics, but to Jess - it just made sense. Working in an office or spending eight years in school had never made sense to them.

Walking up to the entrance to the Memorial, Jess was reminded of another prime reason to stay in sunny California. Aly waiting on the bumper of a Jeep in the parking lot had Jess thanking the gods that she convinced management to let her put up the online profile for the hikes. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, stepping up onto one of the decorative boulders in her way before swiftly hopping off to get to her newest client. 

The backpack Jess carried, preparation enough for the two of them, jostled as she landed in front of Alycia, but it had been (and would be) through worse. “Hey, that’s me! Nice to meet you, welcome to the Wrigley gardens,” she greeted, reaching out to shake Aly’s hand. “I figured we’d start in the actual gardens and head out to the hills. The trail ends with a gorgeous view of the ocean, I think you’ll love it. Do you hike very much? We can take it as slow as you need.”