2018 In Review

2018 was the year I got to know my new city. I went on picture-taking excursions and wrote about the places I went and what I saw.

I traveled to a tiny island in the Caribbean called Saba, to London and Manchester and back to London again; I took day trips to Ojai, Balboa Island, Knott’s Berry Farm, Las Vegas, and Malibu, and spent a weekend in San Francisco. I went camping for the very first time in my favorite national park.

I met Greta Gerwig at an airport in St. Maarten, saw a live table read of the finale of my favorite show, and attended as many entertainment panels and Q&As as I could. I got to see Hamilton, finally.

I brunched. At Fratelli, HOME, WeHo Bistro, Flores & Sons, the Village Idiot, Joey’s, and Alcove. I tried dim sum and went to a speakeasy and decided to start eating salad.

I read. Family dramas, romances, tales of magical realism, thrillers, mysteries, even a few sci-fi. I picked my first few Books of the Month and discovered a new favorite bookstore.

I saw movies and watched TV. A Star Is Born, Tully, Sorry to Bother You, Operation Finale, Life Itself, Oceans 8, First Man, Black Panther, A Quiet Place, Mary Queen of Scots, and old favorites at outdoor screenings. Shameless, Scandal, Killing Eve, The Haunting of Hill House, Maniac, Sharp Objects, and so many reruns. I hosted Tuesday Movie Nights and made tacos and argued about the movie voting system.

I left a job. I overwatered some succulents and ordered too many things on the Internet. I got frustrated, mad, overwhelmed, and, eventually, sought help. I tried to be a good friend, sister, daughter, and girlfriend. I lost a friend who was like family.

I spent a summer with my sister, watched my brother in his final high school musical, visited family on a perfect fall weekend, and showed friends around the city I love so much. I started a new job, made new friends, moved into a new house, drove my new car across the country, and began new projects.

I wrote.
I laughed.
I cried.
I listened.
I learned.
I was.
And I hope 2019 will bring even more.