2024 in the rearview mirror?

How did we get here already? I guess we all just woke up every day, one day at a time. Last year was a quite full year for me, most of all because of the “Pebbles in a Pond” Voter Outreach project--My “Sunset Project,” ending in my final retirement! (BTW:Retiring from storytelling is really tricky. More about that later.)

Not only was I able to implement an novel approach to using the performing arts for the public good, but this project allowed me to hire at least 15 people as logistics helpers, technicians, set-designers and performers. With live shows, TV shows and podcasts, plus lots of community chats, PR goodies, and good newspaper/radio coverage, my team did an incredible job! Here’s a shout out to all of them: Jerry Day and the guys at Access Tuolumne, Gail Segerstrom, Olga Loya, Marianne Hale-Levitan, Rane Wilson, Tim McCaffrey, Adam Dragland, Elizabeth Root, Josh West, Khalil Rundle, Lisette Sweetland, Andrea Lisbon, R.D. Haratani, Jennifer Aguirre, Kathy Martinez, and Nathan Ignacio, and countless volunteers.

And it was pretty nice to have a regular salary to do what I love. It’s hard to explain how this kind of work sometimes makes us feel like WE should be paying people for giving us the chance to do what fuels us. But then, how would I pay my bills?

So, GOODBYE to 2024 and a very full year of good work. Here’s a big thanks one more time to the California Arts Council, United Way of Merced County, and Tuolumne County Arts for believing in me. And to all you other folks who supported us along the way, thanks to you, as well!

Oh, yeah, about that retirement thing? Stayed tuned…