Well, we made it through to 2025. At the end of each year I like to reflect a bit on the significance fo it. So I went through all my Google photos month by month and made a collage of those that held the significance for Linda and me. (Linda might have a slightly different take but she is busier than me). Maybe you have done something similar. Anyway, here is the collage and my summary of 2024: *WHATTA YEAR! 2024 WAS!* January—Milan’s 87th BD massage February—Milan Took the Arrow train & Metrolink to Claremont for Brunch with old friend Vance J. from Houston; ANCA Presentation at the esri Forum on the climate crisis. March—Getting our Braemar garden ready for spring planting; Gathering at McDermotts, including Kyle Knutson family from Dallas, for a fantastic celebration of Frank’s good life & death. April--Earth Day 2024 Day of Climate Action in Redlands, with more than 30 projects, capped off with a celebration at the Redlands Bowl. May—Watching the garden grow, tomatoes and squash are a-comin.’ ANCA wraps up spring education series on health impacts of climate change. June—Linda’s 81st celebration at New York Pizza; ANCA movie night at UR*: Don’t Look Up,* with discussion on implications for our climate predicament. July/August—A month-long driving trip to the Midwest, seeing friends in Denver, cousin and son in Nebraska, grandchildren in Iowa, sisters in Wisconsin, more friends in Eau Claire, kids, grandkids, and great grandkids in Minnesota, several days at our kids’ cabin on the Crow Wing River, sending friend Frank’s ashes to the world (the Crow Wing ends in the Mississippi), and lots of “This Land is Our Land” on what might be our last cross-country driving trip. September—ANCA kicked off its fall educational series “Living Closer, Moving Smarter” on sustainable housing and transportation; co-sponsored our local city council candidates forum; fire season begins. October—kicking off the Map Your Neighborhood disaster preparedness program and holding the second Repair Café. November—ANCA’s educational program on the reality of recycling; a grant for education on the dangers of wildfires and smoke and kicking off the Northside Alliance for work climate education in a low-income community. Also, beginning the Map You Neighborhood disaster preparedness program with ten events. Oh yes, and the national election happened. December—ANCA booth at the Northside Holiday Celebration with information and a big fire suppression blankets distribution; the last of Milan’s weekly Joslyn Joy Writers group meetings; capped off with a week at our favorite Skylark hotel in Palm Springs. WHATTA YEAR! Lots of local climate crisis education and action, lots of signals from Mother Earth about the serious pickle we’ve got ourselves into, lots of turmoil around our dysfunctional political & economic system, and a great need for compassionate response to the suffering in our world. As we look forward to the coming year, we have another opportunity to get up on New Year morning 2025, throw open our door, step outside and shout “What have you got for us this year?” Happy New Year from the Hamiltons [image: Untitled design (2).png] -- Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2@gmail.com
