(time with my dad was the very BEST part of 2025)
there are a lot of really wonderful things that happened to me in 2025… the most important, of course, is that it is the last year that i got to spend time with my father. i cannot begin to express how GRATEFUL i am that we moved back to berkeley and i was able to visit with him so easily. (we moved across town - i am southside now, but it is still only a ten minute drive.) as he grew more tired, sometimes we took naps (he in his big, leather chair, me on the blue sofa), sometimes we just made faces and sometimes i read to him. all of those visits fill my heart and give me peace.
other good things happened too - i got to visit my sweetest boy in new orleans, one of THE BEST cities ever. while i am disappointed that he didn’t choose me for his college roommate (i was all set to bring the mini fridge and the popcorn maker) and i MISS him desperately, i am so happy that he chose to go to school in a place that i LOVE to visit. and as soon as i win the lottery i will buy a little pink house with black steel railings and an oak tree in nola.
(visiting T in new orleans)
i have been able to cheer on my darling lucy as she dances with an incredible hip hop troupe out of destiny arts. i am so PROUD of her and delighted that she has found such a special studio and community.
(destiny’s dance troupe… can you find lulu?)
i relaunched my interior design business in california and celebrated with an art show featuring my mother’s gorgeous quilts, vibrant paintings from my wonderful boulder friend, sarah kinn, super cool pottery from my childhood girlfriend, jess parker and handmade, soft “luxling” creatures by the uber talented, local berkeley artist, sharon wheat. it was so much fun to bring all of these creatives and their beautiful work together. i so appreciate my new california clients and look forward to many more exciting projects.
hank SURVIVED an attack from an evil apple that nearly choked him when he took too big of a bite. i am so relieved that he fought so valiantly to live (with the tip top medical care from his vets) - he must have had deep reserves of strength from all of his naps. today he is as good as new! PRAISE JESUS!
(hank in the special oxygen tank at the vet with his lamby)
thanks to my high school friend and now neighbor, i have learned about lots of yummy southside restaurants… we do little lunchtime walks to local spots. he always carries a tote bag!
(the view from my southside roof on a very clear morning!)
on saturday mornings i have been going to torah study at our temple. (no - i have not properly converted…) it feels like book club for one of the world’s oldest stories. each week, someone breaks down the torah portion and then there is a discussion. the group is largely comprised of some of the smartest, most thoughtful, inspiring grannies and grampies with a couple of rabbis thrown in and a few of us around my age. i am always blown away by these elder intellectuals. they present these connections and theories and arguments about what we can take away from the week’s segment that make me think and question in ways i have not done since i was a university student. they don’t always address all the details in the portion - i can be quite literal and sometimes i wish they would explain what is going to happen to all of the slaughtered bulls or how they carry around the traveling temple or why people live so long… maybe in 2026 i will work up the nerve to share my questions…
i learned how to cook lentils and now i am a little obsessed. i was intimidated by them because i thought you had to soak them overnight and that is one step too many for me. but i learned that all you have to do is rinse them before cooking and i can handle that. i have been mixing in sauteed onions and i have to say, they are DELICIOUS! they are NOT pretty though… they kind of look like mud.
(not much to look at, but super TASTY)
i’ve enjoyed regular walks around the marina with hank and one of my dearest childhood friends. my heart soars every time i look out at the bay and the bridges and the city. no matter the weather, the view is spectacular. i am so HAPPY to be home! surprisingly, i have also been doing real HIKES with another amazing girlfriend. these are much more tiring (there is also a point with a wonderful bay view) but i feel so PROUD of myself when they are done.
(the beautiful berkeley marina)
(the view from my hike on the fire trail)
generally, i have been able to spend lots of time with my growing up friends (so many of them remained in the bay area or migrated back.) these relationships are so grounding and important to me and i appreciate so much these hilarious, supportive, wonderful people.
it has been a poignant, important year full of joy and pressure and challenges and growth and learning and sadness, but mostly a year filled with LOVE. wishing you all the HAPPIEST NEW YEAR! x0x0x