Lots of celebrations this month. Looking back and looking forward. Honoring the vibrant lives of old friends, looking ahead to the first day of summer. I just returned from a family wedding amidst the spectacular splendor of Plumas county. My niece had her Bat Mitzvah last Saturday (Mazel Tov, Sadie!). That same niece and another’s birthday last week too. Father’s day coming quick. Juneteenth just around the corner. Pride month still going strong! And I have a bunch of other birthdays to keep in my head in June. My sister, my mother, my father all this month. My wife’s big day is next week.

This morning I’m trying to access the details of a special weekend celebrating her several years ago, a full year before we found the space on 40th St to open shop. Friends of Max and Julia graciously invited us and some friends to stay at their avocado farm in Toro Canyon, just east of Santa Barbara. In addition to a weekend of good food and great company - one of the highlights was a spontaneous day trip to a small, semi-secluded local beach.

A magical combination of cold wine and unusually warm water, waves breaking in steady gentle procession, a ridiculously perfect afternoon for fun and frolicking, for bocce and body surfing. At one point all dozen of us were in the water together and a moment I distinctly remember… three friends riding a gentle wave in together, nearly in unison. Everyone close by, smiling, laughing, my wife looking so happy, everyone looking so happy. Then, at that exact moment of euphoria, another being surfaces from the water. It's beyond ludicrous, but my brain registers it to be a baby dolphin for a split second. Instead, this little jellybean of a child emerges from the water in our circle - from completely out of nowhere. Like the viral photo of the girl laughing with a camel, she stands up, waist high, beaming and proud. Long black hair slicked back, chest out, chin up, her hands proudly on her hips - hero pose, in full Care Bear stare mode. Her little goggles flashing sunshine and rainbows straight out to the horizon. And I shit you not… this (maybe?) six year old child hollers out: "Now this is what I call living!", holding her smile, nodding to us in approval, with a calm, confident comfort I can only hope one day to know.

That tiny little miss sunshine, a bright cherry on our sunny day, slipped back down beneath the surface to whatever world of whip cream and wonder she exists. The moment was fast and fleeting, almost like a hallucination. I was so relieved, overjoyed really, that others could testify to seeing her too (we eventually saw her pop up again further down the shore, joining two waddling silhouettes which we presumed to be her grandparents, or her earth guardians for the day).


Happy Thursday. Happy pride month! Happy Juneteenth! Happy birthday to everyone this month. Every month! Get to the ocean. Get to the coast. Eat an avocado. Drink wine. Connect with friends. Circle up. Celebrate love. Introduce yourself to strangers. Beam with joy.


Much love,

Daniel