2023 Wrap-Up

With the exception of October, 2023 was pretty good. Not great, but good. I’ll take good. I realize not every year will be a banger. This was the year that I really caught my stride and solidified relationships in Los Angeles. With essentially every friendship being a new one (minus Rach – heyo!) it was time to evaluate. I’m heavily focused on positivity and expansion, so while I chose to cut ties with a few, I became a lot closer with some amazing women, who I believe will be in my life for years to come.

Meaningful connections are extremely important to me. I need people in my corner who will champion me through various modes of life, irrespective of distance and time. People who check-in and show compassion, those who crave healthy conversation and growth, despite potentially mismatched social or political views. Ultimately these differences don’t really matter, but having heart does. I’ve accepted that some relationships are only for a few years, or for a season, and that’s ok. I’m also very thankful for the several visitors I had from NC this year; it truly means the world that people are willing to travel here so we can be together.

Without further adieu, here are my favorite moments from 2023:

Returning to Spain. I wrote about this a few months ago (in my only other post of the year, shame!) but I loved reuniting with my international bestie in Barcelona. While she spent the morning working, I walked 10 miles alone, enjoying the weather, the sites, the coffee, the Gaudi touch. Will forever adore this city, this country.

Hiking Roque de Taborno in Tenerife, Canary Islands. This 6-mile hike had incredible coastal views and a dramatic cliffline. I mean, check out these pictures. The weather could not have been better mid-January, in fact, the Canaries are the warmest place in Europe during the winter months. We chose Tenerife wisely and with intention!

Three days solo in Vienna. We all know by now that it’s beneficial to challenge oneself by traveling alone on occasion and to, of course, visit new places. On an annual mission to make this happen, I chose Vienna, Austria as a spin-off from Spain, because it was a direct and affordable flight, and close enough considering the short amount of time available. I didn’t know what to expect but I found the city to be beautiful and quite enchanting. I particularly loved the Kunsthistorisches Museum and I even went to the opera one night, certainly a first time experience.

A night in Vegas. This was a blast of a girls’ trip, for Rachel’s 35th. We stayed in old Vegas, near Freemont street and got into all of the shenanigans. I drank champagne throughout the day and night, miraculously (and probably narrowly) acquiring a hangover, but keeping the buzz and energy going through 4am, extremely out of character for me – I guess they really do pump oxygen into the casinos! I left Vegas breaking even financially after many games of roulette and way too much time on the slots.

Anna visits LA. It warmed my heart to see how Anna embraced the city. I think this city is most understandable (and loveable) when you’re finally immersed in it, and exploring with a local versus visiting as a tourist. We did a lot but my favorite moments of her visit included a hike on the Topanga Lookout Trail, an intimate musical performance in Hollywood followed by some dancing, and an evening at the Laugh Factory and Jones, Rach and Victoria in tow.

My first super bloom! One perk of a wet winter was the abundance of super blooming around the region (yes, I’ve made that into a verb). A term new to me, super blooms are an unusually high proportion of wild flower fields, germination and simultaneous blossoming made possible by the rainy season. Justine and I took a day trip to Diamond Valley Lake for a stroll and photography.

Two Florida visits. As much as I grumble about the (truly) obnoxious trek to Gainesville, FL from here, I know that it’s important and valuable to visit my GG during her later years. We have a special relationship. During these visits, I also got to spend time with my family from other parts of the US. Additionally, I enjoyed a day to myself drinking micheladas at Clearwater Beach and later boating with Gary, Liz, Ryan and Davis.

Roaming around NYC and Brooklyn; family reunion. A Jaffee family reunion had been in the works for quite some time, so I milked it and first flew to NYC, with the plan on driving down to DC with David after a few days. So I made the most of my return to New York, a beloved city. The reunion to follow was so special and a big thanks to my cousin Fran for hosting a fabulous party <3

A weekend in Raleigh. And I went back to NC, just for the hell of it! I miss my friends and seeing the newest generation of littles grow up. I want to make sure I’m back at least once a year for a proper visit. Unlike my fall work trip (which is busy with work obligations), I needed some uninterrupted time with the gang. I dropped the name of a winery and told people to meet up if they could – to my delight, a huge group turned out and it was the happiest night. Love you all!

Birthday brunch. My birthday celebration became a core memory because after dining, we somehow transitioned into dance choreography and filming a video. The fact that this even happened is hilarious and epic. Once again, I’m so thankful for the friendships I’ve made here and that people were willing to show up for me – and act silly in public 😀

Back to Guatemala. I’m still conflicted over this visit. Clearly, I have a lot of love for Guatemala and it really is one of my favorite countries. I chose to return for a summer vacay for a few reasons, primarily because I knew it would be easy/familiar, affordable, and close enough for the short trip (1 week). What I did not take into strong consideration though, was rainy season. Having traveled to Costa Rica during rainy season, which was great, I ignorantly assumed Guatemala would be the same. But it dumped buckets almost every day, which really limited my outdoor time. And if you know me, being outside is life. Second, and HUGE oversight – it was Guatemalan election week. Which meant loud explosions at random hours, and a freeze on alcohol sales over the weekend, which overlapped with my birthday LOL. Quite inconvenient.

But alas, I made the most of it and took advantage of every break in the rain. Highlights were hiking Pacaya Volcano, singing karaoke with new friends, and lounging by my pool in Antigua. At the lake, I returned to San Marcos, spending 4 nights at the Eagle’s Nest yoga center. I loved the outdoor shower, cuddly cats on-site, and the breathtaking view from the yoga platform. I’ll return time and time again (duh).

Hosting Andrea. Although Andrea’s visit felt short, we had a great time together. The best moments were hiking to Griffith Observatory (always enjoy seeing her conquer hikes she feels uncertain about), driving out to Malibu and exploring Point Dume beach and the cliffs, and dinner at one of the top LA restaurants, Pijja Palace. Check out that green chutney pie – it’s to die for. And Harry was SO happy to see his Auntie.

Beach rave. A top evening of the summer. Friends of friends were hosting a beach party, complete with a DJ set-up, string lights, and even a fancy rug for the dance floor. We watched the sun set, drinking champagne and then dancing into the night.

Taylor Swift with Juliana. The concert was everything you read review-wise and more – truly incredible. I remember seeing Taylor Swift open for Rascal Flatts many moons ago and recognizing her starpower in the making. 2020’s Folklore is still, I think, one of the best albums of all time. Anyway, despite the Ticketmaster fiasco, I somehow managed to get two tickets to one of the six LA shows. As my fellow Swiftie, Juliana was the obvious recipient of my second ticket. And yes, I went to see the movie too, because I am ridiculous.

Jess’ wedding in Philadelphia. Jess got married! A bunch of us reunited up in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philly for the occasion. It was fun to explore the city with my Raleigh girls, my favorite stop being Reading Market. The wedding was sweet, folky, and felt like home.

A Raleigh trip for work and friend time. Back to NC I went, conveniently from the wedding, for our annual work “homecoming.” I’m grateful to my employer for funding this annual event, something that I find very beneficial for both comradery and networking. It was fun getting to know my manager face-to-face, meeting Lydia’s baby, and attending a Durham Bulls game with some folks. I also squeezed in a little brewery time with the 919 crew.

Lindsey visits. Lindsey is a planner so I made sure to put a jam-packed schedule together. Some of the highlights were a delicious dinner in Thai town, a hilarious shopping experience on Melrose with Victoria, great seats at a Kings vs Hurricanes hockey game, a fun Halloween scare house, and back row at the Orpheum. Lindsey also distracted me with her positivity when all hell broke loose in Israel, and for that, I am thankful.

Arts and Entertainment. One of my goals for the year was to attend more shows and events. I finally made it to the LACMA and also to a few of its weekly jazz nights. I went to the Viennese opera and to my first Nutcracker ballet. I saw Camille perform in a very cool modern dance showcase. And I went to a bunch of shows. Taylor Swift was by far the biggest event, but Kelly gifted me pit tickets to John Mayer at The Wiltern, and Ed Sheeran came out as a surprise guest. I also saw Incubus at the Hollywood Bowl, and Ray LaMontagne and Blanco White. Through someone I dated, I found myself at Ohana Music Festival with backstage passes to Eddie Vedder and the Earthlings.

Countries visited: Spain, Austria, Guatemala

States visited: CA, NV, NY, NC, FL, OH, MD, VA, PA, DE

New US cities visited in 2023: Mt. Baldy, Claremont, Riverside, and Dana Point, California; Cleveland, Ohio; Wilmington, DE.

Other noteworthy happenings. I volunteered every single week for the first half of the year. I saw my cousins more this year than ever before (and Dan had a baby!). I got close with my neighbors – the best group – and hosted a Friendsgiving. Played a lot of charades! I went to a handful of Dodger’s baseball games. I hiked some new trails. I took day trips and of course made visits down to see my San Diego family.

Harry turned 15! He gets subcutaneous fluid injections twice a week for his kidney disease, and luckily we have the sweetest technicians who shower him with love. It makes the process way more bearable. He seems to be doing really well and is still my best buddy of all time!

These are strictly highlights from the previous year but believe me when I say there were major low points and challenges. Fortunately, I’ve done the feeling and processing and I am optimistic that I’m leaving the bad stuff behind and focusing on the new year ahead. I’m also releasing the things that I have no control over. I’m excited for what’s to come! Cheers to anyone still reading this and wishing you everything special in 2024.