Creativity is great, but plagiarism is faster

The proud peaks of prolific proportions pry open my peaceful prayer for privilege to prey upon my profligacy. With a "woosh" of wistful wind, the weather whips in warnings of wasted weekends.

Taking heed of profound, witty alliterations, I circumnavigate the bulky outline of a VW Passat looming in the infinite fog rising from waves crashing against jagged rocks far below. With a deft movement, I pry open the handle to the passenger seat, seating myself securely beside two good friends. Stocked with sunflower seeds to spit and water to drink, we turn back onto the serpentine road, spirits high.

Verdant meadows, inhabited only by livestock slide by on either side. The road slopes gently upwards until the water is lost to view beneath the blanket of the morning haze. Sad to lose the sea, but confident in its imminent return, we continue our spiraling ascent, increasingly optimistic. Bright yellow signs indicating "20 mph" on the sharp curves blur as my weary head begins to nod. Time for raucous music. The harsh sounds of Brand New engenders giddy joy that courses through the maze of veins that run over, under, around, across, and through my body. I want more than anything to shout for joy - freedom has arrived!

Three rays of filtered sunlight above the desolate sea shoot through the suffocating haze as we emerge from behind a vertical wall of rock. What majesty! Could this kind of beauty save the world? Consumed with this question, I recline my seat slightly, contemplating forgotten thoughts and fragmented quotes. White-capped swells roll in as predictably as LA traffic while we wind our way to further wonders.

Perched precariously on the side of a crumbling slope is a wooden footbridge that leads to a lookout point viewing a hidden cove complete with an 80 foot waterfall, tumbling to the white beach far below. Mesmerized by the power of the scene, we casually comment on the beauty of the falls and the light blue ocean in the cove. Sunflower seeds make their way back and forth as we spend the following minutes gazing at the vast expanse. With a chuckle and a shake of my head, I manage to tear myself away from the view and head back to the car.

The next 6 hours are spent admiring the best of Central California's rugged coastline: Carmel-By-The-Sea, Morro Bay, and Monterrey all slide by. If only there was time to experience all they have to offer.

The best is coming... Off in the distance it sits, waiting for its time to arrive. Beauty may not save the world, but it will maintain it until its salvation comes.