I Love Van Nuys

When our realtor suggested Van Nuys, I said no. I didn't want to live amongst adult book stores and auto dealerships on Van Nuys Blvd.

But like most things in life, I hadn't looked closely. I needed to look closer. And much to my surprise - I can't see myself living anywhere else. I love Van Nuys.

I love the way people jog, walk, bike, and roller blade around Lake Balboa.

I love the hokey golf ball water-fountains that are visible on the public golf course.

I love the big silver futuristic-looking Orange Line buses.

I love the way all the streets run north/south and east/west all the way. If you ever need to get anywhere, you can take any street you want.

I love the way my kids watch the small airplanes and helicopters flying in and out of Van Nuys airport.

I love the way my kids watch the big airplanes flying in and out of Burbank airport... so high that we can only see them and can't hear them.

I love the way my kids watch the remote-control airplanes flying above the model plane park off Woodley.

I love the fact that there's a Japanese Garden in walking distance of my house.

I love the fact that there's a bird sanctuary adjacent to the Japanese Garden.

I love the yellow "EARL" signs that direct the "My Name Is Earl" crew to their location that day.

I love that there are a dozen major supermarkets close to my house.

I love that there are a dozen doctors and dentists offices close to my house.

I love that there are a dozen family-run donut shops close to my house.

I love that the 405 and 101 freeways are near me - but I'm close enough that I can get on/off them using side streets and not having to resort to using the sadistically cruel 405-to-101 interchange.

I love the Zankou Chicken on Sepulveda Blvd.

I love the huge trees that you know were planted 60 years ago when the whole San Fernando Valley was covered in fruit trees.

I love that the ancient Van Nuys Toys R Us is one of the few remaining stores in the world that have the old design with the long rows.

I love the Calvin and Hobbes-inspired mural outside Birmingham High School.

I love being able to go to the Kids WB, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney without having to get on the freeway.

I love being close to the Van Nuys Government Center - and the biggest police station I've ever seen.

I love the duct-tape-holding-it-together charm of the Van Nuys Iceland skating rink.

I love being close to the Springbok - a South African bar. Raise your hand if you even knew such a place existed? Not me.

I love the way people look at you when you tell them you live in Van Nuys - as if you're only joking with them.

I love walking into an air conditioned building after walking around in the hot San Fernando Valley summer air.

And most of all-

I love that most people have a bad image of Van Nuys, so that I was able to actually afford to live here.

So please disregard everything I wrote above. Van Nuys is awful. You don't want to move here.