Three weeks ago on January 7, 2025, my life changed forever. The Palisades fire consumed my home and so much of what I held dear. It was a lifetime of memories, mementos and personal history.
We ran out with the dogs and a few treasures from my “fire closet,” items I’d always vowed to protect. Among them were my family heirlooms, boxes of photographs, negatives, a green box of my grandmother Yvonne’s, a few of my most cherished books, and frames I pulled off the wall at the last minute before I evacuated. I drove out of my driveway for the last time and sat in my car in traffic and down to PCH around 3pm.
I sat on Will Rogers beach for a few hours and just stared at the sight of the smoke enveloping our town. When I could finally go back, what survived and was waiting for me - a small ceramic blue bird I placed next to my pup’s ashes, still blue sitting protectively on the ashes, “This Sh*t is Heavy” steel stand inspired by
@badgalriri with
@thehaasbrothers from The Rihanna Book project, a flask
@sirruhf gave me, my grandmother’s ceramic blue water jug, a vase I got on a work trip in Peru and a rose quartz crystal. These objects, filled with meaning, now carry an even deeper weight.
I have found beauty in resilience and the birds still sang in the charred trees. Nature continues, and so do we. Will Rogers, my happy place, is gone, but the community spirit remains. First responders like my cousin Wyatt Nelson, who saved my life with his urgent calls to evacuate and countless neighbors have shown what it means to stand together in the face of loss.
This fire has taught me about letting go. I’ve spent my life collecting, documenting, and preserving memories. Now, I understand that what truly matters isn’t the things we hold, but the love and connections we share. To those who have reached out: thank you. Your kindness has carried me through. For those asking how to help, please consider supporting local relief efforts and organizations working to rebuild our beloved communities.
Although we’ve lost so much, I am filled with gratitude for what remains. Los Angeles you are still my home.
To my neighbors, my family, and my friends. I love you.
