2023 brought so many good things. It felt that life was finally back to normal with covid a dark memory from the past. Travel, parties, concerts, sports events were all back like “before”. It was another year that has created memories that will last a lifetime.
Accept what is, let go what was
However, it was also a hard year, both professionally and personally. Although I love my job and the people I work with, the long days and some of the challenges started taking their toll. Personally, I also dealt with challenges. The hardest was mom having to move out of the place she lived in for 23 years, and into assisted living. Although it was better for her, it did not make it easier. Then for months I had to deal with getting red puffed-up eyes and an itchy face. Through an allergy test I finally discovered that I have a lemon/lime allergy. As you can imagine, not easy for somebody who loves anything lemon and lime. Also, it is not easy when eating out, as I came to realize that almost all dishes have lemon or lime. However, with everything going on in the world, I need to put things in perspective, and in the end, I know I came out stronger.
Memories of visits from and to friends
It was lovely to have Lisa, Erwin and Livy visiting in February. This was their first time returning to California after they moved back to the Netherlands. In May I had a wonderful ten days when Majdi, Kajli and Jamie came to stay with me, including a great weekend in Marin. Then in August, Joris and Joge came for a long weekend as part of their West Coast vacation. We went to a 49ers football game, hiked for wine and watched the San Jose Gay Parade.
Livy
Snoopy Museum Santa Rosa
SF with Karl the fog
Hotpot. MuMu Santa Clara
3 Steves Livermore
49-ers game
Pride San Jose
Of course, as I do every year, I visited New York to spend time with Andrea, Tony, Miss B and Nola. In April we had a great time playing tourist, taking a boat tour around Manhattan, and walking around Central Park. I also got to watch Briony’s baseball games. And back in December for another visit, to enjoy magical New York City in all its Christmas glory – Rockefeller Center with the famous Christmas tree, the windows at Saks 5th avenue and Macy’s and all the other festive decorations.
Upper East Side
Boat around Manhattan
Drinks on top of Grayson
Christmas in NYC
I visited the Netherlands in May and October, and in addition to spending a lot of time with mom, I also had time to meet up with friends for walks, talks, coffee, dinner and drinks. A special treat was to hold 1 week old Noor and a wonderful day in the Efteling.
Efteling
Baby Noor
Memories of music, concerts and sport events
I am so glad we can enjoy live events again. We had two awesome girls’ nights. The first one, “Abbamania”, in May, an Abba tribute concert in the Fox theatre in Redwood City. Then a fun Barbie movie night in November in Bina’s backyard. In August, Vidya, Rocky, Amit and I had a fun night, watching the Gipsy Kings in the beautiful Mountain Winery. And we attended two legendary concerts: Ed Sheeran in September with Vanessa, Seema and Liane in a record sold out Levis Stadium – 81,000 people. Queen and Adam Lambert in November with Steve, Goody and the boys during their Rhapsody Tour stop in Chase Center. We saw them in 2014 and crazy as it may sound, they were even better this time.
Abbamania
Agnetha and Frida
Come on Barbie lets go party
We are all barbies
Gipsy Kings
Mountain Winery
Ed Mathemetics World Tour
Pre Concert drinks
Queen and Adam Lambert
During my visit home in May, we had a fun Sunday afternoon watching PSV. Lieke managed to get us tickets to the business club through work, a first time for me watching it there. The 49ers are having their most successful season in a long time. After the pre-season opener against the Raiders, we saw them win the first home game against the NY Giants. Then we saw them destroy the Dallas Cowboys in October and again Tampa Bay in November. On to the playoffs in January! Go Niners!!!
PSV Business club
49ers – NY Giants
49ers – Dallas Cowboys
49ers – Tampa Bay
Memories of our weekly hikes
We hiked almost every weekend this year, sometimes both Saturday and Sunday, training for Tour the Mont Blanc. Black mountain, Mission Peak, Monument Peak, Sunol Ridge, we conquered them all and had a lot of fun doing it (most of the time).
Memories of work trips and events
There were lot of business trips to Seattle this year with some fun dinners with my team and coworkers. In March, Michelle and I attended the California Conference for Women and listened to amazing keynote speakers. Very motivating and inspiring. Business also took me to Disneyland for meetings. They took us on a private tour through the park. This included a visit to the flat on Main Street above the Fire house, where Walt and his wife used to live when in California. Disneyland really can be magical! Movember got us back at the golf course for a good cause. I am grateful to work with and get to know amazing existing and new coworkers in Amazon this year. Several of them will remain friends, no matter what.
California Conference for Women
Disneyland
Walt’s app on Main Street
Movember golf Calipe
Seattle team dinner
Memories of traveling to new and old places
And of course, there were many trips again this year because travel is a core part of my life. Vanessa and I kicked it off in January with a long weekend in Palm Springs. Watching the first 49ers play-off game in a bar, hiking for food and wine and shopping. In February, we went back to Yosemite with a big group to snowshoe. There is nothing more beautiful than Yosemite in winter, although it would have been better without the snowstorm.
Watching the play-offs
Moon over Half dome
Snow shoeing
Mirror lake
Dinner in Yosemite Lodge
More hiking and great dinners in June in Vancouver, a city that had been on my list for a while and did not disappoint. On the contrary, it was a delightful mix of great outdoors and great food. Reason to go back for sure.
In July, the O’Keeffes and I rented a house in Moncarapaco, Portugal. We spent several days on the water and at the beach and had wonderful food. I really enjoyed the quieter side of the Algarve.
Fuzeta
Mandi and I had to change our Labor Day plans after the horrible fires destroyed Lahaina in August and Maui became a no travel zone. So instead, we booked a last minute trip to San Diego. It turned out to be a great weekend, rediscovering all the great places and food San Diego has to offer. The highlight of the weekend was a dolphin trip on a small raft that resulted in us being surrounded by hundreds of these fun and playful animals.
La Jolla
Brunch in Hotel Del
Dolphin tour
San Diego brunch
In November, Vanessa, Tammy, Maureen and I had a great weekend in Paso, sampling too much wine, eating too much food and having too much fun. Thanksgiving was a friendsgiving trip to Murphys, California with the Winstons, the O’Keeffes, the Dattas and Tammy. Hanging out eating, drinking, playing games and karaoke.
Paso Robles
Tablas Creek
Thanksgiving in Murphys
Memories of our unforgettable hike along TMB
And then there was our unforgettable hiking adventure. We booked a trip to hike part of the Tour de Mont Blanc trail from Courmayeur, Italy, through Switzerland to Chamonix, France. Six friends, seven days, seventy miles and a million memories. We were lucky: except for one rainy afternoon, it was perfect hiking weather. It is a humbling experience to walk along the majestic peaks of the Alps and it helped put a lot of things in perspective for me, that is driving some of my decisions for the future. Too many stories and memories to write down here, but they can all be found in the blog.
Memories of dinners and parties
Of course, this year was full of dinners and parties: Easter at the O’Keeffe’s, Mother’s Day in Veldhoven, a fun night in SF watching the Book of Mormon. We celebrated Cate’s 18th and 4th of July.
Mother’s day lunch
Book of Mormon
Cate’s 18th birthday
There were multiple Crandall circle happy hours and impromptu get-togethers.
Friday night HH
Impromptu HH
Front yard celebrations
Friday night HH
And the year would not be complete without the traditional “Ugly Christmas Sweater and White elephant party” that brought 45 people to the house for a night of fun, food and laughter.
For the first time in many years, a framily Christmas in California.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas day
Believe in what will be…
So here we are at the end of December. Another year is coming to an end and what better way to reflect about the past year, than sitting at a beach in Maui, watching the waves roll in with the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. 2023 was a year of transition, change and closure. I decided to take a three month leave from work starting Dec 18. This will give me the opportunity to figure out how to shape the next chapter of my life. 2024 will be a new start, new beginnings and new adventures. The California Conference for Women was the day my friend Michelle and I started to be serious about exploring an idea we are both passionate about and had been talking about for a while. I am filled with excitement and energy to embark on this next journey and see where it leads us.
“You are never too old to start over. Every day is a chance to create the life we want.” – Karon Waddell.
Sunset and
Sunrise in Maui