A Dusty Year
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 10:05PM 
As I look back on 2007, I am reminded of the potholders I made as a kid. Loops of nylon woven into colorful squares filled with lumps, bumps and holes. No matter how many mistakes, I always considered them beautiful and proudly gave them to my mom to use in the kitchen.
My mommy memories of the past year have been rich, plentiful and filled with bumps that I wish hadn’t happened. An especially fun parenting moment was when my six year old had a play date in which she and her friend took a bath in bathing suits. Little did I know that the mom had gone to work and left supervision of the kids to the dad who was outside overseeing the construction of the pool. Needless to say, I now check the mom’s schedule and much more.
And then there was when my five-year old daughter broke her arm on the monkey bars at the park. I’m not sure what to learn from that one…forbid her to do monkey bars and instill her with a fear of heights and ‘what if’? My own neuroticism of saying ‘be careful’ a thousand times has done probably enough of that. I am just glad that I headed to the local hospital where she received outstanding attention and care.
But between those whines of ‘I don’t want to go to school’ and ‘why do I have a sister?’ there have been incredible moments of sweetness. When my youngest told me, “I love you so much, I want to be you” my heart fluttered. My oldest recently decided that she wants to be called Bob and the younger one, Lulu. We laughed so hard over their new identities that my side hurt. The innocence of their young ages is a daily reminder of what is really important: lip gloss and candy.
For the non-mommy side of myself, I have had moments of happiness from writing this column and working on my film. I still push myself too hard, a bad habit leftover from the Hollywood days when twelve-hour workdays and countless meetings were never enough, even if your film was a blockbuster. Next year, I hope to return to my love of traveling since we no longer have to haul a nursery with us each time we step out the door. I also want to spend more time with friends--I just don’t have enough adult conversation in my life.
Throughout this year, there has been one constant in our lives: the reconstruction of Bluebird Canyon. We live right next to the landslide and experience the almost daily grind of machines and dust coating our house. My emotions have fluctuated depending on the type of day I am having. Some days, I feel grateful that we have our house yet saddened for those who are homeless. Other days, I am annoyed as to why it is taking so long and refuse to smile at the workers on their coffee break.
That is why the opening of the Flamingo Road is one of my favorite memories of 2007. On a beautiful sunny day, we were reminded of the power of community and dedication to a task. As I looked around at my neighbors, my eyes filled with tears. Fresh air, strong schools and a tight knit community were the reasons my husband and I moved our family here four years ago.
As I watch Bob and Lulu climb the hill where there is so much work yet to be done, I know we made the right move.
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