Happiest birthday to Desi Domo, my daughter/sister/mirror/dad/angel/teacher/friend! Instagram auto-selected the music for this post and I was going to change it but then it turns out the lyrics perfectly describe how I feel about our friendship: “I’ve got somewhere I belong, I’ve got somebody to love. This is what dreams are made of.” And now I’m crying over a song from the Lizzie McGuire movie, okay?!? @desidomo I love you so dang much!!! HBD 🥳🎂🎁
2025 was one for the books.
Last year was a DOOZY. If you haven’t heard from me in four months it’s because I’ve been in a caregiving wormhole. Since the end of August my mom had two brain surgeries (plus rehabilitation and radiation) and then my dad had open heart surgery on his gosh darn birthday. Everybody is doing well now! 🙏
Looking back, it would be easy to write off 2025 as a terrible year. It was full of fear, loss, stress, grief, and so many days spent in hospitals. But, life being what it is, there were incredibly beautiful moments, too. 2025 was also a year of health, sunshine, laughter, flowers, and so many days spent with people I love. I feel blessed.
That being said, I’m ready for 2026. And I’m wishing you so much peace, joy, wellness, and love this year. L’chaim babies 😚
June: Picture of Dorian Gray Edition
Holy moly, Sarah Snook knocked our socks clean off. So much so that we had to do a photo shoot with her poster outside. We wanted to hold cigarettes like she does in the show (and on the poster which you can’t see) but we didn’t have any (because smoking is bad for you) so we just pretended but then our hands looked weird so I added some in post (Instagram).
I love @desidomo even more than I loved this show which was the most.
June: Maine Edition
Funny faces. Joyous swims. Lost teeth. Consolation hugs. Dock coffees. Tree spoonings. Nature smiles. Little islands. Cabin selfies. Hidden eyes.
Rob. I’ve been writing to you in my Notes app hoping that you could somehow know how I feel about you. The moment I questioned whether I should share this publicly, I got an alert for rush tickets to Titanique. That was a nudge from you. Probably to go see Titanique. I’ll go, I promise! But I’ll also share my love for you because you deserve every tribute. ✨
We met the first day of Freshman orientation and you immediately made me feel like I was in the right place. It was like we’d always been friends, immediately bonding over our nerdy passions. Mythology, Sondheim, Shakespeare.
The memory that best represents us was at my 20th birthday during tech week for Romeo & Juliet when we left the party to do scenes from the show… through the empty dorm corridors, down the stairwell, and out into the night. Peak theatre kid revelry.
You were like a brother to me, but our only fight was over who was smarter: Beatrice or Benedict. We sided with our characters at the time, which I think was only fair. What a life highlight to do that show with you.
We were always talking about the other roles we’d play. Just last week you sent me a clip from Sweeney saying you’d love to do that show together someday. I said that it would be a dream, but I really thought we’d make it happen.
I can’t sum you up. You’re too dynamic and interesting. Too smart, talented, deep, passionate, poetic, electric. You were so fully yourself from the moment I met you.
Everyone keeps saying you were a light and it’s true. But you were also lightning and fire and starlight and a magical Peter Pan shadow and the entire ocean.
I’m devastated to not get more time with you, but your spirit is too powerful and magical to be gone. I know you are free and wild and that you’ll stay around everyone who loved you creating more light and magic (with a little good-natured mischief). And you’re going to be very busy because you were loved by so many.
I know I said you were like a brother to me, but I think you were like a brother to SO many. I hope you know how loved you are. How special and important you were. What an impact you made.
“I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.”
Happy birthday to my constant! @kateandersonwastaken I love you so much. Thank you for making me laugh approximately 240,000 times over the past two+ decades. Laughter is very important in our culture. As are 3 hour phone calls and an endless stream of memes. I wish we were popping bottles in a magical forest together today!🍾✨🌳 Happy thirty… third! 🎂💕
Happy happy happy birthday, @jimsantangeli ! 🥳 🎂 🎁
Here’s to another year of adventure, health, success, joy, and love! 🥂 I wanna be with you everywhere. 💕
