For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it – Amanda Gorman.
I flew back from Europe on New Year’s Eve, just in time to raise a glass of bubbly to toast to 2021. I was more than ready to leave 2020 behind and I was hopeful that things would get better in 2021. Unfortunately, things got worse first. On January 6th, I watched in horror the attack on the US Capitol. It was hard to believe that something like this would happen in America. However, it did and showed how fragile our democracy is. Equally emotional but this time with tears of happiness, I watched the inauguration on January 20. History was made with the first female, Black- South Asian Vice President. This day became the symbol of new beginnings and of a new normal. Covid was not going away, so we just had to find ways to manage and live with it. And we did.
New ways to travel
In 2020, like the rest of the world, I traveled very little, but in 2021, I slowly started to travel again. Travel, however, has taken a new form- masks, vaccines and testing has become the new normal, but this is a small price to pay if it means I can travel again.
California travel
Our first trip after lock down, was in March, when Mandi and I went on a road-trip to SoCal. We had a wonderful long weekend in Newport Beach and Catalina Island. Following that trip, we spent a week in Pismo over Easter, hanging out on the beach with the O’Keeffes and the Snymans.
June saw the return to Pine Mountain Lake and Yosemite, for a week of hiking, white-water rafting and lake life right from the beautiful house on the lake with our own private deck.
We celebrated Tammy’s and Seema’s big b-days in July, with two weekend trips. Tammy’s celebration was a memorable girl’s trip of hiking and glamping in Sequoia High Sierra Camp. With beautiful hikes during the day and great food, stories, laughter and card games at night, we made memories that will last forever.
Seema’s was celebrated with an unforgettable weekend in Georgetown, the heart of California’s gold country. This one included another white-water rafting trip, ziplining, climbing and bouldering in an old quarry. On Saturday, we had a Indian dinner party that turned into a dance party. And you it is a good party, when the cops shut it down at 2am!
On the plane again
Once I was fully vaccinated, I felt more comfortable to get on a plane again. In August, I combined my first business trip to Seattle since February 2020, with a trip to Mount Rainier National park with the Winstons. We had hoped for a nice and sunny hike up the glacier, but instead it was a cold, foggy day so we could only go part of the way up. As a result, we did not see much of beautiful Rainier. The hike was still nice, though, in an eerie way.
Nantucket had been on my list since reading Elin Hilderbrand books. So when Bina suggested to meet there at the end of August, I didn’t hesitate and booked my flights. We had a wonderful time exploring Nantucket’s cute cobblestone towns, beaches and culinary delights. What a beautiful little island.
After a long two year gap, I was finally reunited with Andrea, Tony and the kids in New York. A crazy cat lady went trick-ot-treting with a New York Yankees star and a witch. We also enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Dagon.
Our old Philips Kidcom group had planned to meet up in Iceland in 2020 with, but naturally due to COVID, that was put on hold. Very last minute, we decided to visit over Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Rob and Mieko could not make it, but His, Eug, Goof, Lydia and I had a fantastic time, hiking and eating our way through Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and Vic area. The high light of the trip was an ice-cave walk on a glacier and volcano. However, the whole trip was great, with beautiful waterfalls and hot springs and two wonderful dinners in a restaurant in the oldest building in Selfoss.
New ways to celebrate
Special birthday celebrations
If there is one thing COVID has taught me, is life is unpredictable and celebrating people we love is important. In February we were still in lock down in California. Still, we found a creative way to celebrate Aevanne’s big birthday. We recorded a video of a special “Aevanne” version of “Do they know it’s Christmas time” and enjoyed watching her remotely we had a champagne toast outside after.
Mom’s 90th birthday was in May. The Netherlands was still in lock-down and it meant we had to find alternative ways to celebrate this big milestone too. So instead of having people come visit her, we brought mom with cupcakes and bubbles to her close friends and neighbors. And instead of having a dinner in a restaurant, we brought the restaurant home for a nice family dinner.
Another special birthday was Jos’s 80th in October, and I was glad I was able to celebrate this as well.
We are lucky that we live in California, where the weather allows us to do so many things outdoors. We enjoyed pool parties at the O’Keeffe’s mansion and neighborhood block parties with our Crandall Circle neighbors and friends. From the Crandall parties, this years highlight was definitely the Diwali party, celebrating the festival of lights. The regular weekend hikes continued in 2021 and when there is a birthday we continue our tradition from 2020 of mimosas on top of the mountain.
We celebrated a new baby with the arrival of Erwin and Lisa’s baby Liv. There were kid’s birthdays and a lot of adult birthdays, like Vanessa’s birthday trip to our favorite wineries in Paso Robles.
My month of birthday celebrations.
As usual, my birthday celebrations can span a full month. First there was a fabulous dinner at Teleferic Barcelona with Mandi. After that, there was a pool party at the Loller’s, a lovely lunch at Left Bank with the girls on my actual bday, followed by cake and pink bubbles on my patio. There was a birthday dinner of oysters and lobster roll at Cru in Nantucket with Bina. Finally there was a white picnic in the Winston’s backyard and a neighborhood street party to finish it off.
New appreciation
While writing this letter, I realize how much we celebrated this year and how much I traveled again compared to 2020. Despite COVID, we have found a new normal and one thing I have come to appreciate more and more, is that it is not as much the destination that matters, but the people and the journey. I feel rich and blessed looking back on 2021 and I am looking forward to the journey of 2022. Happy New Year!
Thank you for your letter. It is very inspirational and proves that life is what you make it. I also feel that you are a special and precious, loyal friend and that is why you are surrounded by people who love you. ????? Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.
Love, Marise
Thank you Marise. Happy Christmas to you and Rodney and the family