2020 has brought us some challenging moments. But, astrologically, it has brought us two nearly once in a lifetime events, the NEOWISE comet (Palos Verdes Pulse July 23, 2020) and the “Christmas Star”. In the days preceding the celebration of Christmas millions of people around the world have witnessed an event that was nicknamed the “Christmas Star”. Although there is little evidence that the conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn is actually the legendary Star of Bethlehem, its timing between Winter Solstice and a Christmas led to the popular moniker.

Every year on December 31st, people celebrate New Year’s Eve, the last of the year. It’s a day to say “goodbye” to the old and “hello to the new. We celebrate by attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the New Year, watching fireworks displays and the ball dropping in Times Square. We should welcome the New Year every year with new energy and enthusiasm so that our life becomes even better.

As a young kid I was fascinated by the “old folks.” Grandpa Lama came to America in 1902, leaving his wife and infant daughter behind in Naples. He worked as a “fireman” on the NY Central Railroad for three years, before earning enough to send for his family. In fact, my grandparents on both sides emigrated from Italy around the turn of the century.

As the year 2020 comes to a close and we reflect on the challenges of the past year, many are feeling the mental and physical uplifting benefits of the Peninsula’s natural lands during this time of social distancing. The Conservancy has continued to carefully steward these lands without interruption, restoring the health of the land for wildlife and public enjoyment. In spite of everything we have collectively endured, it is reassuring that open space is there for us to escape to and enjoy during trying times.

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere... but where?

So, take the driver’s seat of your special adventure and you will easily reach your destination!

My client said, “I want to lose weight,”

“Can you be a little more vague?” I ask. She laughs.

Octopuses are mysterious. Octopuses are fascinating. Octopuses are fun, especially if they are named Rex and can sing! Yes, Rex is a musical cephalopod created by Barbara Hart of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Here we are at the end of 2020; a year to go down in infamy. There is much for us to process as our humanity has been plummeted. Once again as in lifetimes gone by, we are being asked to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. Even our survival has been compromised. There is much to be concerned about. No need to reiterate. We hear all of it every day as soon as we turn on our phone or our television or our radio. Each time we enter a public venue and see the warning signs. Waves of concern everywhere we look. We ask ourselves what do we have to look forward to? When will the Universal support system shine a light?

Once in a while I fret about the cost of living in California. Then I go outside, smell the flowers, feel the cool ocean breezes and calm down. We all know folks who have emigrated to Colorado, Florida, Texas, even Wyoming, for heaven’s sakes. But there is nowhere else you can find the combination of natural beauty and weather that we enjoy in Palos Verdes, IMHO.