Moments 2025

 In some ways, this year was an absolute dumpster fire (I mean, look at the socio-political situation in this country and tell me we're looking good...I'll wait). But despite all that, there was a lot of good in my world, with the ups and downs.

I'll just get to it, then.

A Proud Moment

This year I returned to running and completed my first official 5K in...too long. In September I participated in the Urban Cow race, earning my cowbell in a respectable time, and five minutes faster than my best training run. I went into the race with absolutely zero cares about my time--this was just a happy bonus brought on by the race day excitement seeping in. 

Running in my mid-ish-late-ish 40s is different than when I started in my early 30s. I'm just glad that my body is capable of running, that I can get out there and enjoy the process. Here's to more running in 2026! 

A Moment of Hilarity (Part 1) 

I'm a creature of habit. I like my daily yogurt for breakfast, topped with Honey Nut Cheerios. And I like my little morning iced coffee in my favorite tumbler. I put a little bit of sugar-free Torani and a splash of milk in it. 

But some mornings, I'm tired, or in a hurry. And we all know what can happen when a perimenopausal woman is in a hurry. 

The WTF Moment

Why do kids do the things they do? 

Why, indeed. They're kids. They're impulsive. It's fine...it's FINE. Okay, so I had actual steam coming out of my ears when one of my middle school kids nearly started a fire in my classroom. And my students got to see me Actually Mad, not "haha, Teacher Mad." My colleagues got to hear me on the school walkie-talkie system sounding like I was spitting fire. 

Now, it's done, it's over, it's forgiven. Mostly. 

Mostly.

Moments With My People

I'm a lucky lady. I have some really great people in my corner. Whether it's a 20s-inspired murder mystery dinner for Karen's birthday, concerts and other shenanigans with Sarah and Debbie, or just girls' night with the women in my life, I'm so happy to have these people around me. Some are colleagues-turned-friends, some are people I've known a while, some are newer. But they're all amazing. 

This year's fun has included the above-mentioned birthday fun at the dinner theater, with all of us in our flapper best, a couple of concerts (pictured here the Offspring at the amphitheater in Wheatland), and an evening at a local speakeasy. Not pictured: more fun evenings out for dinner or drinks, a day trip to San Francisco, Book Club, my Marigold Bunco group, Halloween watching an 80s cover band, and just hanging out. We capped the year with a ladies-only Bitchmas, and yes, it was hilarious and much-needed. 

A Moment 22 Years--TWENTY-TWO YEARS--In the Making

There's not much to really say. I've been teaching for 22 years, and began my 11th year at my current school in August. My chosen career has it's wild moments--I mean, look: paper clips in power outlets, yay! But it also has moments of delight, and they really do outweigh the frustration. 

I get to teach a subject I am passionate about, and work with 630 amazing children in grades K-8. I have amazing colleagues, many of whom are also dear friends now. Teaching is far from perfect, but I still love it, and for that, I feel incredibly fortunate. 

Here's to twenty-two...oh, hell no. I've got 13 years left, max. 

A Sweet Moment

While I'm normally a leave-my-summer-alone type of teacher (I do just fine on my 10 months spread over 12, thank you), this year I offered to do half of Summer School. I had some vet bills to pay off for Archie, so I was happy to do it. I had about six students on my most "crowded" days, and they were all rising 6th graders. I love this particular year group, and had a lot of fun with them. 

This particular day, as we came back from recess, a couple of boys stopped to inspect a snail, showing that even as they barrel towards middle school, kids are still curious. I snapped this picture because it delighted me to see them stopping to investigate and observe. The beauty of learning, in one simple, face-free picture.


The Saddest Moment

In July, I had to say goodbye to my dear Popcorn. Archie was my "sick" cat, taking chemo for small-cell lymphoma, but doing really, really well. And then Popcorn rapidly lost weight, started peeing on my bed one morning, and one immediate vet appointment later...was diagnosed as having an inoperable tumor in his belly.

It was a two-day roller coaster ride from his peeing on the bed to me saying goodbye, and I hated every minute of it. My sweet Poppers, gone? Unimaginable. 

We're doing okay. Archie--his littermate and lifelong companion--struggled a bit at first, but we got through the initial shock and grief to the other side. We still miss our Popper-Doodle. 

Nothing on the horizon yet for a 2nd cat. There was a sweet girl available but the timing wasn't right. I wasn't quite ready. The universe is funny like that. We'll see what 2026 brings.

Rest well, Popcorn. We love you.

A Moment to Remember

In May, my colleagues and I found out that on Mother's Day, our former colleague (but still friend) Tiffany had passed away. She was only 41 years old, and our shock and grief was immediate. As the news spread, colleagues past and present convened in texts, emails, and in person to grieve and celebrate her.

A few days after her death, a few of us gathered together at a mural of her in Midtown Sacramento. A few years ago, a local artist was painting real people of Sacramento, and heard about Tiffany and her work in education. She asked if she could paint Tiffany...and Tiffany ended up forever memorialized there. 

We gathered to leave some flowers, and to take a few minutes to remember her. Tiffany was truly an amazing educator--she came to our school in 2019 as a social studies teacher, while completing her admin credential. She would leave a few years later to be a principal at another school, but she was always, always, one of our Marigolds. To honor her, we all wore silk marigolds on our shirts at our end-of-year district celebration. 

A Moment With Dad

Sometime in late summer, Dad accompanied me to the Schulz Museum. I'm a member, so I try to visit a few times a year to see the latest exhibits. It's truly a happy place for me. 

On this trip, Dad was moving to take a picture of me at Lucy's booth when a volunteer docent asked if we'd like her to take a picture of both of us. The result was this adorable picture. I enjoy my time with Dad, and I'm so very thankful for our weekly lunch dates and the time I'm able to hang out with him.

A Moment to Stand Up

This year I participated in two No Kings Rallies at the state capitol in Sacramento. I 100% believe that my rights are in danger in our current administration, and I will absolutely fight for them. 

I am sick and tired of being painted as some kind of clueless liberal by the other side, or someone who hates America. I do not hate my country--I love it enough to fight for democracy and the Constitution. I love it enough to fight for free and comprehensive education for every single child. I want my fellow citizens to thrive right alongside me. 

I want the world to know that many--MOST--of us are appalled by our leadership in this moment. We want to be better neighbors and allies. 

I remain hopeful, and willing to put in the work.

A Moment in My Favorite Second Home

When it came time to choose a destination for my 2025 February Break, I had a lot of ideas, but in the end, London was calling. I mean, it's always calling. I felt I was due a visit.

So I spent a wonderful, too-short week in my favorite city. I saw my duck lady Sarah for a day in London. I took the train to Leicester to see my brother-from-another-mother Kay and my doggie nephew Zeus the Staffie. I visited Burnham--of course!!--and spent a lovely afternoon with Kathy and Derek. 

Traveling to London these days is wonderful because I'm not in a rush to see all the things. I can pick and choose based on what I haven't seen in a while, or my mood. This trip, I spent a day in Greenwich, returned to the Courtauld for the first time since 1999, and just meandered...though I made a point of going to Richmond to see some of the Ted Lasso sites. I love me some Ted Lasso. 

I wandered the streets of Burnham-on-Crouch for a morning, stopping to pay my respects to the river. I'll never not love that town. 

So...What's Next? 

I face down 2026 with my usual cautious optimism. I'm going to Athens in February with a work friend, and that promises to be a lot of fun. We had lunch last week to discuss things we want to do--we're both happy to do stuff together, or take off for alone time if the other is not as excited about an activity. We definitely agree that one of the cool walking food tours looks amazing. Mmm, Greek food!

I'm mulling the possibility of booking another international trip for June, too. The hardest part is choosing where to go! The last few days I've been thinking Tokyo could be fun.

I want to do more day trips around California. I made it to San Francisco three times this year, and to Monterey once. I had three or four trips to the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. So this year, I hope to do more mini-trips around my beautiful home, too.

Career-wise, I've become a mentor this year, and I'm loving it. I want to continue to grow in that role (it's a lot of figure-it-out-as-you-go), and continue growing in my own teaching practice. 

I want to continue my running and my gym habit. November and December were a bit hairy in that regard--Dad was hospitalized in November with a gallbladder infection and he needed me there a lot to help him navigate the stress of it all. Then December was the usual Music Teacher Fun of preparing holiday performances and ending a semester of grading for my middle school students. Our school has grown a lot this year, which created logistical problems we didn't anticipate. This prompted a lot of last-minute meetings with me and my bosses, all of us staring at each other saying, "Soooo, where do we put all these kids?!" Fortunately, my current administrators are one of the best teams I've ever worked for, and they truly value my input and want to help when they can.

One thing I do know is that my life is never boring. It's Wild and Absolutely True. I wouldn't have it any other way.