A Year on the Road: Leaving family & friends behind (or not?)

As a mom of three kids, a step-mom of four, an only child and someone who has lots of family and friends mostly located in Chicago, leaving for a year was a bit daunting and came with lots of guilt.

The flip side of that is that our family and friends now have a great excuse to visit a new city and we’ve connected with people that we otherwise won’t have seen and usually on their turf.

So far, we’ve managed to see all but 2 of the kids in Aspen for an unbelievable weekend together (Zoe & Dori couldn’t make it as they live in Prague & Tel Aviv, so that’s been more challenging). Sidra Hoffman was starring in Puffs at her high school which was a great excuse to connect in Maryland with Michael’s family and see her perform. And we’ve had some amazing opportunities to see friends in Aspen, Baltimore and New York.

We’re hoping this continues to be one of the delights of this experience!

With 8 months to go, there is still lots of time and places to connect.. Oahu, LA, NOLA or all of the above — hope to see you soon! xoxo

Silver Spring, Maryland (visit during our NYC trip)

Aspen, CO:

Sue, my partner in crime at 7908 Aspen & Kristen Pettersen & Asher (Hoffman) at The Woody Creek Tavern

Luna brought us to a Ghost Town in Ashcroft & what became our weekend hangout, The Woody Creek Tavern

New York City, NY:

Josie Tenore & Paul Hinds in D.U.M.B.O in Brooklyn & Yumi Ozawa at The W Hotel in Union Square

Victor Pearlman in NYC at his studio in Brooklyn (one of my son’s closest friends) & Jackson Lardner, a close friend from BCN son & family friend perform at The Cutting Room