October 2 Day 938: Angeles Angels

NCTM brought me back to spend time in LA.

I lived there for a dozen years as I was starting my career. I got my first academic job there. I got divorced there. I found my loving and supportive partner there. I gave birth to two sons there. There was lots of nostalgia, both good and bad.

Everything felt familiar but different. It’s been 17 years since we moved away. Honestly, I do not miss the place. I do not missed the traffic. I do not miss the heat. I do not miss the Hollywood film crews taking priority as they filmed on location.

I do miss the people—the neighbor I took morning walks with, the colleagues that mentored me as a young teacher, my mathematical friends and co-authors, and the then-young mothers that bonded in Mommy & me classes and Taco Tuesday nights.

I have never been good at maintaining long distance relationships. I lost track of some important people in the move to Washington state. Please know, if you get a holiday card from me, that means you have a special place in my heart—and I probably don’t tell you that clearly enough.

I was grateful to reconnect with these beautiful humans.