Venice Beach Skate Park visit (7/15/2011)

Footage from Youtube of someone shredding at the Venice Beach Skate Park.

Today I went down to the Venice Beach Skate Park. I was skating the large pool and some local kids came over to skate it too. I got out of the way and took a seat next to one of the kids; he looked like he was 13 or 14. All of these kids could shred. Me, I just try to skate, and when it's my turn I take it. My turn was currently over, so I was taking a break. I sat down next to a skater and started listening to the kids' conversation.
"Where do accents come from? Are people born with accents?"
"No, man, they pick up accents from people around them."
"Yeah, we have accents too. We just don't hear it"
(Laughter)
One of the kids started talking in an exaggerated hick-like American accent.
Everyone cracked up.
The kid sitting next to me paused then, loudly immitated the young kid who immitated the American accent.
"Haha, that's what you always sound like."
Everyone within earshot laughed at this, which obviously pissed off the kid who happened the be the butt of the joke. He dropped into the pool looking rather butt-hurt and disappeared for about 35 seconds. The conversation continued and then stopped abruptly when the kid popped up out of the pool, missing the lip-trick he was going for.
The kid looked up and looked directly over at the young African American kid sitting next to me who had just made fun of his accent earlier.
"Hey D! Why don't go over there and join the drum circle?"
Nobody responded to this crack.
The kid sitting next to me to whom the joke was directed looked surprised. He paused, shook his head, and said out loud, "How is that funny?" Nobody responded.
At this point, I felt it was appropriate to lend my 2cents to the conversation.
"There's nothing to get," I said
"Huh?" The kid sitting next to me looked over in my direction.
"I just said that there's nothing to get."
"Oh, hahaha, yeah you're right, hey did you hear that? There's nothing to get!"
Some people laughed and a few kids looked back in the direction of the one who had made the drum circle joke. Then "D", who was still sitting next to me added the comment, "Unless he means like people in Kenya playing drums or something..." I looked over and with a dumbfounded expression on my face replied, "OH, that's what he was implying? Ha, I didn't put the two and two together! Haha." To this reaction my new young friend looked at me inquisitively.
I paused then grinned and said, "Dude, I'm just playing. It was a stupid joke."
"Hahaha, that's cool man." He smiled. "Hey my name's 'D', what's yours?"
"David," I replied, "Nice to meet you."
"You too."
I thought for a second, laughed and then added, "Besides, nobody is just born with rhythm, you have to learn that shit too, like an accent."
"Haha, you're right," D said.
.

I went on to skate the pool for a few more runs, then I ventured over to the snake run. The smell of blood, sweat, and indo' filled the air around me. I really love Venice.