Favorite January Moments

1. Dan's birthday where people stayed for nearly six hours as the party evolved into spontaneous jazz sing-a-long to Dave's guitar playing, then reading John Donne & Galway Kinnell aloud
2. Rousing conversation over Swedish pancakes on Jan. 1st at the McClellands with the Clelands
3. Wrapped up in blankets in my living room for a late night talk of faith with Manka and Anna; two other nights with Manka talking of family or watching favorite HBO shows
4. A rainy night's dinner with Amanda at Sozai, sharing of love found
5. Homemade, 3 hour Trinidadian/Jamaican dinner in Berkeley at Penny's Caribbean Cafe with Manka, Anna, Natashia and Amanda
6. Making friends with the Irish bartender at La Trappe with Dave and Dan over a meal of mussels & frites and Belgian beers
7. Sharing Blue Bottle & an egg, bacon, arugula sandwich with Dan on an early Saturday morning at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market
8. German beers and hearty food at Schnitzelhaus with Scott & Louise
9. Revealing, challenging talk with my Spiritual Director, Mary Ann
10. Crista visits from LA for a late night dinner (& brilliant wine) at our favorite Incanto
11. Breakfast and costume shopping in Marin with Anna and Manka
12. Staring out the giant picture windows of Aqua on a rainy day for a decadent lunch with Dan
13. Driving around the city singing along to George Jones with Amanda
14. Making burritos with Jason at our place
15. A romantic, warm birthday dinner for Dannee at Range
16. Getting lost in U2's music (still) during "U2 3D" at Imax Metreon
17. Driving along the coast with Dan on a Sunday afternoon
18. Profound talk with Edward who came to the Homeless Dinner at Old First Pres.
19. "Coal Miner's Daughter" over fried chicken and biscuits with Amanda & Anna!
20. After 2 months in Asia, seeing my sister's face again

Currently reading : Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go - Richard Rohr