This is an excerpt from Chasing Clean Air, written in August 2006.

My lungs feel a lot better up here. I’m in Bellingham, and my lungs have felt better throughout Washington, except Seattle.

Air goes down smoothly.

No coughing.

And no worry about air quality like I regularly worried when in L.A. I still miss things about L.A. but I don’t miss the bad air or traffic that limited my mobility and put me and most everyone in a bad mood.

I’m laughing when I recall a recent yoga class in L.A.

Young female yoga instructor, “Breathe out smoggy air and all its toxins from your lungs.”

Class breathes out smoggy air.

Young female yoga instructor,

“Now breathe in.”