29 years later: a jersey girl in san francisco ⚡️
I can’t believe it’s been 29 years. It seems like it’s gone by in a clichéd blink of an eye. How do you even measure nearly three decades of living somewhere as an adult? At what point does a place stop being "where you moved" and simply become home?
I’m feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about things I’ve accomplished or experienced over my 29 years of being a Jersey Girl living in San Francisco.
People used to ask me, “Do you love SF?” And I’d say, “yeah” kinda nonchalantly. Like it’s where I live, but do I love it? My relationship with the city is like all relationships, there are good and bad parts about it. I love the produce. I hate the summer winds and fog.
This past Sunday, I was so excited to return to SF and be greeted by the Pride light beam. It felt so good to be home.
I moved out here 29 years ago on 4th of July weekend. I gave myself a month to get a job, get into art school, and find an apartment. Otherwise, I was flying back to Jersey for a wedding and I’d just stay there. And amazingly, I accomplished all of that in a month:
I got a job waitressing at Boogaloos which totally shaped the trajectory of my life. It influenced my social life-I met the Devil-Ettes. My dance and my performance life, I became a Devil-Ette. I can even thank that job for creating the family I have today, because G and I met through mutual friends in the Devil-Ettes.
I found an apartment to rent that I ended up living in for 19 years.
I got into art school, which I quickly dropped out of 1 year later.
If you can’t find me I’m in the top row 2nd from the left!
Here’s what else has happened over the past 29 years, not necessarily in chronological order!
Created 4 art installations:
Binge: Where Life Becomes Art and Art Gets Eaten
All about food waste and binge eating.
5 years of Hair
Display of the collection of my hair that I had saved for 5 years.
The Shedding
Multi room interactive installation as we moved out of the apartment on Shotwell St., where I lived for 19 years.
Pussy Quilt
A 12 ft X 14 ft quilt that was my response to trump’s first presidency.
One piece I made in art school unexpectedly found its way into the permanent collection of the Oakland Museum of California.
Performed spoken word pieces at The Moth, The Curly Monologues, and a variety of fundraising events.
Worked at Betsey Johnson.
Worked for a tech company and became one of “those people” riding the tech bus to Silicon Valley.
Worked for a Fortune 1.
Fell in love, got married, birthed two kids ( all naturally on the same day 2 years apart), the oldest of which is off to college in the fall. How is that even possible?
Purchased a condo with a sick view of the city that I am still awestruck by daily and nightly.
Rescued a dog.
Got 3 ear piercings and 1 tattoo.
Journaled a lot.
Wrote 3 songs and recorded and released 2 so far.
Started a blog segment called Playground Chic Look of the Week.
Built my own website.
Built our Family History website.
Launched a Podcast, Talking Smack 415, and am still Talking Smack 6 years later.
Learned to play and am obsessed with Mahjong and Pickleball.
Took Hip Hop, Ballet, Urban Contemporary, and other dance classes.
Became a fan of Tracy Anderson's workout.
Was a member of various parent advisory committees from ODC to public schools to private schools.
Met so many amazing people and dear friends, and you may be reading this.
Tried to be an influencer.
Am still trying to be.
( I’ve had a post that has gone semi viral with 533 likes)
Started and stopped so many times.
Went down so many paths.
Continue to search and find and evolve.
Traveled to Asia, Africa, Australia & Europe.
Walked miles and miles. Walked the beach, the streets, and up and down the hills, canyons, and mountains, in and around San Francisco.
Hosted parties, Jewish Holidays, and celebrations.
Got laid off 4 times.
And this season of unemployment has been the hardest looking for work. It is really crushing my soul.
July 2nd reflection with Teddy and porcelain bowl from art school
July 2nd reflection with Teddy and porcelain bowl from art school
TLDR: I do love it here, yes this is home, yes I’m still a Jersey Girl at heart, and yes this season is temporary and I will continue to reinvent myself.
Here’s to 29 more years in SF, unless my kids leave, then we’re gonna follow them.
That may be my biggest regret.. moving so far away from my family while raising my own family. You miss out on so much and your time together holds a different weight. But that’s something to unpack another time!
Happy 4th you firework! ⚡️💥 ⚡️
All my Leopard Print and Lipstick 💋,
d
PS: I was interviewed for a She’s Got Issues segment called Women We Know. You can check out my interview here.
PPS: Latest Talking Smack 415 is all about finding your Truth, perfect listen for the 4th.
