Josh, Sara, Bunny (the dog) & Canelo (the bunny). Josh's hat pays tribute to our little lovebug, Billie, who we lost this year.

Dear Friends, Family and Loved Ones  

We made it to the beginning of another year! In the spirit of acknowledging how everything grows and changes, I’m going to note 2021’s holiday take-aways, and go right into 2022:  

From 2021:  

  • Grief makes me unexpectedly dysfunctional.  
  • There isn’t a reason for everything, but that doesn’t make it meaningless.  
  • I thought I knew how amazing Sara is, but just when I think I know, I know it even more.  

And this year:  

  • Our Planet is magnificent.  
  • The world is full of love.  
  • And my family (and friends and community) is everything.  

The fire that swept through our land in 2021 has become a defining moment in Sara’s and my life. It’s funny that, whenever I tell someone our land burned in a wildfire, their immediate reaction is usually pity. What I wish I could convey, however, was how much color and wonder and exploration and humility this experience has introduced to our lives.  

Before the fire, when I walked through the forest, I used to look up to find my joy. Now, however, I find myself looking down. I step slowly and carefully and place my boots lightly to avoid the abundance of tiny life clawing up through the ashes. I kneel down overwhelmed at the sight of a teeny tiny tree springing up through the dirt and I welcome it to the world. I watch the little critters - chipmunks, birds, squirrels, mountain mice, crickets, ants, and even a frog! - set about the business of rebuilding their habitats and families. The land that only one year ago seemed destined for death has taught me more than I ever could have imagined about the resilience and strength of life. Mother Earth is a teacher like no other and, this past year, has been a profound source of joy.  

Looking around our world, there is so much pain, anger, and hurt. It’s hard to imagine a way to heal this broken place, or even our broken hearts. I’d like to humbly offer, however, what I’ve learned from the wildfire: that even in what feels like the most unlikeliest of places, there is life. And rather than look up and out at the totality of despair, take a moment to look down and tenderly notice the beauty of love that persists and refuses to give up. Like the forest, our healing is going to take a while. But if we encourage - and BE - those little signs of hope, it won’t be long before there is a new forest. That’s nature. And we are a part of nature.   

With that, a few updates on our lives this past year. Sara continues to work much too hard. On the flip side, however, her projects included: helping to redesign a program founded to support minority owned businesses so that those businesses can receive more resources, support and community; and working to re-tool existing processes and devices used in brain and spinal surgeries to achieve better outcomes in life-saving procedures.   

Me, I spent most of the summer going back and forth to the land. I collected over a 1000 gallons of snow melt into water tanks and used that to hand water ~100 seedling trees every week to get them through the hot, dry summer. I hired a pro to bring down a couple dozen (dead, burnt) trees and milled them for lumber (on a mill that Sara assembled - and welded - entirely off grid!). With help from my friends I built a pad for a future tiny home (graded, framed and laid down 11T of gravel!). In addition there was a LOT of wildfire cleanup, I built infrastructure with the wood I milled, and, just before the snow hit in November, some friends helped me plant over 100 more seedlings, along with hundreds of acorns and bags of seeds (firs and junipers).   

Family came to visit and Dad’s ashes were spread on the mountain, back in April. Our dog Billie, who we lost this past October, will join him in the Spring. In between all of this I continued a busy practice of accessibility consulting, taught a class on events accessibility, and the band regularly performed for weddings and private events. Mercifully, I have now almost fully handed off band management to one of my band mates. I also continue to advocate for San Francisco's urban forest, and believe my work is starting to make a visible impact. 

All of these things would not have been possible without the support of family and friends and community. Sara’s parents who took care of Bunny, Billie and Canelo when we went up to the mountain. My Mom who brought over 8 massive cans of soup when I got sick (along with enough provisions for a small army). Sara who nursed me thru COVID ( I couldn’t help her when she got it because she tested positive while in the UK for work). My brother who helped push through a new LA Metro Tree Policy - the first of its kind in the nation. My sister who came over for a week and worked her butt off on the land. My band mates who continue to humble and inspire me with their creativity. My fellow environmental activists who repeatedly show up for the good fight. And my mountain neighbors who took me in night after night and filled me with  food, encouragement, and a lifetime of stories. 

In my life, all of these things - and more - are the love that persists and heals a hurting world. My wish for you this holiday season and this next year is that, every once in a while, you remember to look down. Life and love and the healing they bring are all around you. You yourself are that life and love to Sara and I.  

Happy Holidays and New Year! Love, Sara, Josh, Bunny & Canelo