No Two Snowflakes

January 604
Narrated by Simone Endeavor

This is the first update/Next Birthday Post/Next update

“I love you because no two snowflakes are alike, and it is possible, if you stand tippy-toe, to walk between the raindrops. ” 

― Nikki Giovanni

That quote describes how I feel about my family.  My little Sienna is her own special person, so distinct and unique from George and I, and we are distinct from my parents, but altogether, we stretch to walk, maybe to dance, between the raindrops.

Sandy's Baby

December 603

Narrated by Sandy Bruty

This is the first update/Next update

When Sandy came home from the clinic, she decided to go get a makeover at Naomi's salon.  She loved the new color and cut, and she went home, put on some different clothes (she had been so distressed that she might be pregnant she pulled on the first odd things she grabbed,  without even turning the light on).  She fixed a nice meal, and then she waited for Zane to get home.

She meant to tell him over the candlelight supper, but when he hugged her, she just crumpled in his arms.  He was mystified, what could be the matter, but he held her and waited.   Finally, she blurted it out.  How were they going to manage the business with a little one?  And they hadn't even talked about having kids, and she had never thought about having kids, and the house was tiny, and she didn't even really think she could get pregnant at this point, especially since they'd been careful.

Zane was not the most kind person at times, but on this night he held her and comforted her, and showed her that he loved her.

So Grateful

November 603
Narrated by Laney Redbird McElveen, age 39.

This is the first update/Next update

Declan and Laney, age 39.

Declan and Laney's home at #1 Michelle Lane, Simdale Valley

It's hard to believe Declan and I have been in Simdale Valley for almost four years now.  It was hard for me, leaving my position as a junior executive behind, and buying a house in a town that was new to us, but it has been worthwhile and I am so grateful for the life we have here.  We moved here because it is such a great place to raise a family, and to be near family. 

Missing You

January, 604
Honors Dorm, PSU
Narrated by Julia Jones, 18 years old.


This is the first update/Next update

Dear Ashlee,

It seems like forever since I've seen you...I wish you could be here at PSU with me instead of at Fiesta Tech. I can't believe its already the beginning of the second semester, and a new year, 604.   I'll try to catch you up though.  I've thought about you a lot last semester.

First, here's a picture of my dorm, the Honors Dorm at Peninsula State University in Port Prominence.

Plenty of Fish

Narrated by Seiki Ono.  Seiki is 17, Yuki is 5.

Fall Semester, Freshman Year, Year 603.

Last Update/Next Update

The day I went off to PSU, I went in to say goodbye to Yuki.  She was sitting on her bed, acting like she was meditating.   Mom said she told her she  was going to "be present in the moment" so she could remember this important day in our life.   She said her soccer coach in after-school has been teaching them techniques for positive thinking.  That kid says some funny things for a five-year-old.

I don't need to meditate to remember the first time we drove onto campus.  We used to live in Port Prominence, but even back when I was 16, it seemed like it would be forever before I would be moving to campus.

Lot Tour: Jack's Place

Jack's Place is a seafood restaurant at the pier in Simdale Valley.  It's named after Captain Jack, the notorious pirate who is rumored to have wintered and hid out in Port Prominence bay, thanks to its steep cliff walls.  The fish is good, and the staff wear pirate gear, which seems to please the locals even more than the tourists.  Locals tend to be pretty proud of their infamous Captain Jack.

Jack's Place has especially good ambiance at night, when you can look out over the dark bay and picture a pirate ship skirting along its shores.

Remember the First Time (We Met)?

This is the first update/Next Update/Seiki's Next Update

The Ono Family, Round 2 (Year 603)

Sayuri, age 47, Daniel, age 42, Yuki, age 5, and Seiki, age 17

The Ono family lives at the end of Endeavor Lane, looking out over Port Prominence Bay.  A tour of their house is found on Tumblr.

On the last day of spring, Daniel took the kids to the Simdale YMCA so Yuki could play soccer and Seiki could play on the computers and meet people.  Sayuri, of course, was at the Simdale Clinic, where she is the primary care physician.