This past weekend my daughter told me she was taking me to a very cool surprise. She informed me it would take 45 minutes to drive there and back each way. She was so excited and I was equally puzzled but also excited because of her enthusiasm. She gave me a random address and we drove east from LA, eventually pulling into a small empty parking lot of a nondescript government building. She smiled saying “That must be it. There should be a plaque.” I realized she was talking about the large tree in front of the building. She then informed me that on Apollo 14 in 1971, the astronauts were permitted to bring one thing with them on their trek to the moon. Astronaut Stuart Roosa chose to take a bag of 500 seeds of various trees found on earth. Some of those seeds were of the giant sequoia redwood which is a beloved tree to California and our family. We’ve visited and camped among the magnificent trees multiple times. Anyway, Gracie informed me that these 500 seeds orbited the moon 34 times before returning to earth. 450 of the seeds survived the trip (could be planted) and were distributed to various places/people/organizations to germinate. They called these seedlings “Moon Trees” and my daughter who shares my crazy love of all things having to do with astronomy and space travel, wanted to show me a real life moon tree. She had learned that these moon trees had been forgotten and their whereabouts had been lost. But there is a person trying to locate the exact spot where each of these trees were planted, of which only about 100 have been identified - this one being in front of the USDA Forestry Service building in San Dimas, CA. We were SO excited!! I was beyond happy to hug a moon tree. There was no plaque but we were certain this was our moon tree (it being the only giant sequoia redwood on the property) so we hugged him/her/they, spoke to the tree, and took lots of pics. Then…sigh, then a nice lady who works for the forestry service pulled into the parking lot and we had to ask what she knew about the moon tree! She didn’t know much except that the tree had died about six years ago and the tree we were hugging wasn’t it. (Cont in comments)…
My heart is full of gratitude and love for all veterans, today and all days. A special hug to my big brother who served the United States Air Force with so much pride and honor. I love you @ikolaw8 !! Thank you for your service. Everyone else, please enjoy his mustache and muscles. Happy Veterans Day!! 🩷🩷
June 21, 2008 - we had gotten married before family and friends 4 years earlier (in a church no less!!), but it wasn’t “legal”. So, a few months pregnant with our second daughter, already the mother of a beautiful 2 year old girl, and in fear of Prop 8 on the ballot making gay marriage illegal come November (it did pass btw), we saw a small window in which we could get married AGAIN and make it legal. Those of us who took this opportunity would be grandfathered into legal marriage status regardless of the outcome in November. Sigh…
So, on a bright sunny summer day I squeezed my belly into a white dress, put Gracie in her Sunday best, bought some flowers and went down to West Hollywood park where the city was doing fast weddings in the grass near the playground. With Gracie as our flower girl, and our lovely friends Mike and Katherine (and Quinn in utero) as witnesses, we let the GD state and country know we intended to be married and recognized. Happy 17th LEGAL Wedding Anniversary @windyomalley #loveislove #outlawlove @kraitchh@m_swords@gracieeomalleee@quinn_malley@harpergraemusic
The wifey and I went to see an amazing musical artist who has been on my “must-see-live” list for 32 years - the great Mary Chapin Carpenter, and she was amazing and lovely and all the good things I love about live music!!! The icing was getting to see the magical Brandy Clark (another must-see for me) open up for her!! She’s incredible. AND my wife in boots and a Stetson makes the night perfection. #cowgirllove #outlawlove 🤯😍😍🔥❤️ 👯♀️💃💃💃💃 @thebrandyclark@marychapincarpenter@windyomalley
My ride or die, my partner in life and crime, my support, my heart, my ultimate beauty, my forever love…to her I wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I’d lasso the moon for you, Darlin. I’m gonna get right on that as soon as I get home. Love you, wifey. 🩷💕🌈😍🤠💃🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #outlawlove @windyomalley@brookeedenmusic
There she goes…
Gracie Girl — Meet lots of new friends, remember to eat, sleep and take care of your body, read lots of cool new books, be patient with and kind to yourself, know how crazy proud of you we are and that you’ve already succeeded - this is just icing on the cake. You can’t fail, only experience and hopefully mostly enjoy. Also, please please please wear your boots. Mommy and Mama love you, Bella. @gracieeomalleee ❤️ #college
I strongly, STRONGLY urge every single woman in the United States of America to see this movie. The Seed of the Sacred Fig #theseedofthesacredfig2024 #wewontgoback
And just like that our Gracie girl is off again, this time to be a medical assistant in Peru and then assisting in ecological research in the Amazon of Brazil. The Tom Bradley terminal of LAX is becoming the place of many sad goodbyes but also hugely proud moments. Safe travels, Bella. See you in December!! ❤️❤️
This miraculous child turned 18 today. She is kind, thoughtful, introspective, a thinker outside of the box, funny as hell, and good. She’s so so so good. She has ups and downs and faces them when she can. Asks for help when she needs it. Helps others every chance she gets. She’s been incredibly brave so many times and she truly wants to contribute to the world and all of its people. She makes her mamas proud each and every day. Her adventures have just begun. Happy Birthday my sweet beautiful Bella! Mama loves you forever and ever.
Quotes I’ve overheard in the last 24 hours:
“I’m just trying to embrace this time.”
“I’m a tools person for sure.”
“I’m just glad I quit cocaine. It’s so expensive.”
Look, we’re all trying to do better. Meanwhile, here are some beautiful tulips to enjoy.
My beautiful brother and I have had a sibling fishing rivalry/competition going on for about 20 years. I’ve been in the somewhat lead (because of one amazing 2 week fishing trip in Alaska and later living 6 months in Hawaii, both of which aren’t quite fair) for going on 16 years. Ian has officially surpassed me and now I’ve got my work cut out for me. Congrats big brother! @ikolaw8 ❤️❤️ ps. Don’t let him fool you, this “hunter” guy often throws them back. (16” rainbow trout) #onlycatchwhatyoucaneat #onlycatchwhatisgoodfortheecosystem
