Farewell to 2008

I cannot think of anything original to say about 2008. It’s all been said, so ditto, ditto, ditto! Shared challenges, stress and election excitement notwithstanding, I am feeling optimistic about 2009 and looking forward to paying more attention to how we live and what we stake our lives on.
Our Christmas Eve celebration was small, simple and lovely this year. Of course we missed daughter-in-law Rajina who had to fly to Minneapolis, cousin Pat who was in Honolulu and her daughter Audrey who was in Vancouver. The eight of us who were there had great food and conversation.

I decided to take time off to relax, recover from the holidays and gear up for the coming year. It’s been fun to putter, purge files, play with my art supplies, spend time with family/friends, and reflect on 2008.

My year started and ended with trips to Honolulu for work with Leadership for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) in January and the Wong Property Group in November. Mom came along in January and we celebrated my birthday enjoying the ocean views! While I was working, she was the party girl, with breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day!

Dean joined me for a business trip to London in February where I facilitated a global planning meeting for the company that makes most of the box x-ray scanners that you send your belongings through at the airport. One of Dean’s Panerai pals , Simon Raperport, treated us to fish ‘n chips, and we saw a bit of London, before venturing south to Surrey for the meeting. We also ran off to Paris for a few days, stayed in a perfect little hotel next to the Louvre, and enjoyed running around in the rain!

This was a year of special reunions for me: with friend and former client Becky Luce in Kansas City in May, my UCLA MBA field study team in June, with my original set of roommates and other dearest friends from Scripps College in July, and with Scripps roommate and craft companion Joanne McGee in September!

To feed my other passions, I spent many an hour stamping and collaging with Mikki Lesowitz –Soliday, Joanne McGee, Christina Woo and Allan Sasaki (the latter two: friends from Dorsey High days!), and I flew up to join my brother Steve on a trip to the Pacific Northwest and we ate our way across Seattle (Emmetts Oysters, Dahlia Café, Café Juanita, Brasa, Lola Bar).

In August, Dean was laid off after 28 years with C.A. Robinson. He has been exploring many options, and may be on the verge of something exciting! It’s been an adjustment for both of us, but also an opportunity for us to move to the next level in our relationship. After all, we survived rooting for different sides in the election!
Steven spent two weeks at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, CA training to be an Apple Genius just prior to the holidays, and now he is happily ensconced in his new role at the Century City store. He had us rolling on the floor as he shared stories about his customer experiences during the holidays. Given his introduction to Apple when he was just in the first grade, and his continued interest in technology and creativity, this seems like the perfect place for him! Rajina is still flying for American and also establishing her real estate practice. We are proud of both of them for working so hard, and do not see nearly as much of them as we would like!
My brainy and beautiful niece Elisa (shown below with her dad Gus) is enjoying her freshman year at Brown University in Rhode Island. She was one of an elite group of students accepted early into an eight year program that will take her straight through medical school! Her Mom Tina is keeping busy keeping the kids at bay in the cooking classrooms at Glendale High.

“Big Steve” is retired, and obviously inherited Dad’s green thumb, so his garden is beautiful and abundant. I continue to invite myself and my friends to his place for wonderful meals. He whines a lot about this, but I know he loves me!

And last, but not least, Mom turned 93 this year. Believe it or not, I took her to renew her driver’s license in November and stood there while she passed all her tests with flying colors! She is amazing, and an inspiration for all of us!