Wow! Time really does fly…and it accelerates just like Mom told me it would as the years go by.  I realize that “getting older” and “getting OLD” are two different things, but in either case, time seems to have a faster and faster clock speed as the years go by.  This past year had a myriad of wonderful milestones (despite the incessant drone of political noise)…

We welcomed our first grandchild – Ava Frances.  Ari and Lauren now live in Encino, a not-too-bad 90 minute drive to LA for us when we time it to avoid traffic. Having them so much closer to us is also terrific, and the gift of Ava has made it all the sweeter.

Ruthie and Simon moved to a fun new neighborhood in Miami Beach – super close to the beach and the young, active “scene” they thrive on.  Simon is deeply enmeshed in his medical school rotations and Ruthie continues to do a great job at Patient Power.  Also, in her spare time (????) Ruthie and two dear friends founded a wonderful travel website called The Travelogue – the Global Guide to Getting Lost.   It’s a great resource for anyone who has perpetual wanderlust and is looking for tips from the younger set about best of nearly everything.  They even let me write a blog for them – I am honored.

While they are way too far away for our taste, we all take advantage of our frequent flier miles and Face Time in between to stay in touch.  I cannot wait for the two of them and Simon’s parents to visit in just a few weeks to cap off the year!

Eitan (aka Plugintheox – his professional handle) made a wonderful transition this year to follow his passion for music and managing new talent.  Now as an online student with the Berklee College of Music in their “Music Management” program, and after doing a few internships with well-known music labels, Eitan is now assisting a top recording artist, grooming and promoting a cadre of young upstarts, and producing live showcases in Eugene and Los Angeles in the new year.  While we miss him at home, he is now living in North Hollywood, closer to the action.

I am also incredibly thankful that my Andrew moved quickly through re-treatment for his chronic leukemia and has come out the other side with the same optimistic outlook and plenty of energy to keep doing the work he does so well – supporting other patients and running Patient Power with me. 

We do think about our next chapter – what tipping our daily balance of work/play more on the side of play might look like (“retiring” is a tough pill for us both to swallow at the moment).  To test that out, we have planned a trip “down under” early next year along with a few other excursions that will challenge our ability to unplug.  We are so grateful for the amazing staff we have and their desire and ability to drive our collective work forward even when the two of us stop out for a breather.

My biggest milestone this year has been a concerted effort to use what I believe is a mind/body connection to live more in the moment and basically worry less.  Vinyasa yoga has been an incredible addition to every week, and I got myself certified to scuba dive!  My true inspiration on that last crazy effort was Ruthie.  She is a very accomplished diver and we are both looking forward to exploring underwater in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

Last but certainly not least, I feel incredibly blessed to have my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, my aunt and uncle, and some of my dearest friends closer by than for the many years we were at a distance in Seattle and Barcelona.  I miss many who are still in the northwest and some who live globally, but the circle of those who have known me literally forever are now closer and I am looking forward to taking advantage of that proximity even more in 2019.

I hope that 2019 brings health and happiness to loved ones, peace to the world, and a return to honest and compassionate leadership in our country.  

For now…

Esther