Come On, Get Happy

A couple weeks ago, my mother, Clara's "Mimi," visited from Illinois.  It was a chilly, schizophrenic February LA day, and we were driving back to Hermosa Beach from the Burbank airport.  I was feeling apologetic about the weather, but as we rounded the exit onto the 110 S and were suddenly blinded by the sun gleaming off the downtown buildings, she said (almost as an accusation), "Seriously, what would you change about your life?"

To which I could only reply, "Good point."

I haven't always been happy here.  When my husband (then new boyfriend) said, "I am in love with you, but I was offered a job in LA, and I want us to go together," I threw myself down on the bed and cried.  I pictured the City of Angels as the playground of the devil.  I thought all of LA was Hollywood and Vine (I obviously hadn't strayed to far from Missouri at that point).  But then I looked at pictures of Hermosa Beach and got a tiny bit excited about the adventure.  

Now, after seven years of love/hate, friends coming and friends going, three apartments, three jobs (and finally finding the one), and the birth of my beautiful daughter, I can finally say I'm home.  I hope you enjoy my blog chronicling our life here at the edge of the earth (and yet somehow, the center of the universe).  

Here's us:

This little beauty is Clara Anya Bowden.  Isn't she just luscious?  After 27 tries, we were blessed with Clara in July 2008, and she's a keeper.  Clara loves her daddy to bits, but she's the world's biggest mama's girl (can you blame her?).  She talks up a storm and is a little bookworm.  She can often be found on the swings at the beach or at the doctor's office being treated for an ear infection.  She is the sweetheart of her daycare.  This blog is named for Clara, who likes to toast at dinnertime, clinking her sippy against my wine glass and saying, "Happy Here."


Clara's daddy is Aaron.  Aaron. is. awesome.  He's a talented and accomplished writer and producer of non-fiction television. If you watch History Channel, A&E, and Discovery, you've seen his work.  Aaron gets into professional sports (ya think?), particularly the Eagles and the Phillies, having grown up in Philadelphia.  He's a reader and a writer like me, a people person and a snuggle bug.  We're highly compatible ... we like things the same way.  We also have a lot of the same bad habits. Aaron is a terrific dad and a generally happy guy.  He is also very handsome ... pic coming soon.  

And then there's me.  I'm ... complicated.  I am happily employed doing written communications for a women's clothing company (oh, the perks!), working 8(ish) to 5(ish) five(ish) days a week. I finally feel like I'm getting into my groove as a mother.  I used to have interests and hobbies (cooking, dining out, reading, running, yoga), but then it got complicated, and I'm trying to find my balance.  I hope that this blog contributes to that quest.

Until next time, Happy Here!