Passion Flower

The Passion Flower looks like it's from another planet to me. It's so unique and layered and interesting!  

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I threw a birthday party on the rooftop deck again this year, but this time I invited all of my closest local friends. I sent out the invite 4 days before, promised to serve beer and popcorn only, and somehow managed to have 24 people show up! It was a fun and chaotic, chilly gathering turned house warming party (as the group thinned and could be moved into the warmer confines of my condo). People brought snacks and flowers and drinks and energy to share and it was quite a lovely time. 

Then, that evening, the guy I started dating (excused from the afternoon barrage) greeted me with flowers and took me out to The Progress for an incredible and indulgent dinner. 💖

I'll also report that Valentine's Day was sweet with the guy, including another a nice meal, a forgotten poem, a delivered poem, and a beautiful nighttime walk to the top of Bernal Hill. 

I feel fortunate and grateful for all of the people who've made me feel so special in the last few weeks. 

Seasons

On the day after Christmas, my dad slipped on some ice while trying to get into a car. He managed to keep himself from falling, but whipped his head back and forth in a way that resulted in a serious vertebrae fracture at the top of his spine where it connects to the skull. We learned that he was in need of emergency surgery and, because of the location of the fracture, a neurosurgeon would need to be called in to do the procedure. We also learned that the surgery was risky, given the location of the fracture and my dad's current health conditions. 

I sat with my parents before my dad was to be wheeled off to the operating room. My parents held hands and spoke quietly while I tried not to cry. When it was time to go, my dad gave me a big hug and said, "Make sure to take good care of your mom.". 

The surgical team said they would update us via text at each stage of the surgery so, for the next 4 hours, every text that came through held both anxiety and comfort, until the final one that said the surgery was complete and everything went great. ! 

The next few days had a lot of ups and downs with symptoms that could indicate something critical or something normal. Luckily, we landed on normal every time. 

The last month has continued this trend... It's been challenging and exhausting, with many unexpected wins, and my dad has remained strong and present every step of the way. 

It's been inspiring to see my dad focused on the future and on his hopes to getting back to the things that he loves. Even when he's not feeling well, his hope remains strong.