Sheltering at Home Day 2 - Oakland, CA

Home Office Executive Suite

Awoke in the wee hours and thought, "I need to put love into the world." A couple of ideas came to mind - putting out care packages along Lake Merritt, creating a giving tree, maybe a wishing tree with messages written on paper, or painting little rocks with messages and mandalas to leave along the lake. 

I gathered up my crafting supplies and I have plenty of options. It was rainy this morning so I didn't create my craft project yet. But there is plenty of time to make it happen. 

Late in the afternoon I transformed my dining room table into my desk. This is my home office setup as I monitor 5 email addresses and manage multiple clients and schools. I barely had time to get work done with all the online meetings. Plenty of time to see and be seen, hear and be heard.

Inappropriate Wedding Songs

Overheard while walking around Lake Merritt:
"I keep thinking about inappropriate wedding songs, like, I Would Die 4 U which is inappropriate and appropriate."

Getting Ready for Warriors Parade

Extended Family

Tonight we celebrated my friend Stacey's big 40. It was her house I lived in for the past 14 months, before moving into my own place. Her party was filled with her extended family, many of which have become my extended family, something I didn't realize until tonight. As we danced to great 80s tunes in a restaurant overlooking Lake Merritt, I recognized that these folks have grown to know and care about me.

Each asked about my new place and the summer "relationship" that I had had - hoping that I was still in it. I forgot how much they know about me. The best moment was when little Lex, my former five-year-old roommate, sat down on the steps next to me and put his head on my lap. We rarely had close moments when I lived in his house but there were times when we were out and about and he touched me so sweetly. With family you know you can just reach out and they are there for you.