It’s amazing how much a place can mean to us—to me. I remember being a teenager and sending letters to a sibling living abroad about things that had changed in the house, also noting those that were still the same.

I also like that I’ve returned to writing, after taking an extra long break. The breaks I reward myself with after I finish writing a book, and while the breaks feel like a relief after so much creative output, their length makes the return of writing feel particularly novel and fresh.

The crown jewel of Spring though, at least in North San Diego County, is the flower fields in Carlsbad.

But it’s what I can do for them, short of adopting them all—which I cannot do. I will say this a second time, more for me than for anyone else: I CANNOT ADOPT ALL THE CATS. Yet I find this small bit of service to be so much more rewarding than you might expect.

It was slow going (and still is even after much improvement), but to think that I went from being sure running was impossible for me to running a half marathon—a full 13 miles without stopping—is truly amazing to me. It made crossing that finish line, and every step along the way, mean more than it probably does to most other half finishers.

And just like that, Auntie is officially launched! The launch signing at Warwick’s was a perfect way to start, and I enjoyed connecting with friends, family, and strangers all afternoon.

In any case, I’ve been looking for things to keep my post-holiday spirits up, and a new year is always a deliciously optimistic proposition to me. Because anything can happen.