Thanks to the too-long journey from my old home to my relatively new home (this is my 4th year here), I missed all the NYE fireworks and bubbly. My journey began 3:30 a.m. NYE (Phoenix time) and ended around 7 p.m. NY day (Guam time). Cramped, cranky and a little bit stinky, I crossed the international dateline mumbling get me off this damn plane. No Auld Lang Syne from me.

It’s all good though because as soon as I got home, I ran a lavender bath and then sipped my chamomile lavender tea while unwinding in the glow of the Christmas tree and lights I put up just for me. And then, I crawled into my own bed and slept better than I have in weeks — oh my goodness there is nothing better than a good night of sleep.

I slept until the waxing moon woke me. There she is pointing her light right at me, telling me to get my cup of coffee and join her before she descends to pass the torch to her sister.

I am so grateful she did because I got to spend my first full day of 2026 enjoying a light cool breeze, the scent of sea and jungle dew, lol and the squawking of roosters waking everyone up. Perhaps Guam has also embraced me a bit because I swear the wind whispered maolek na matto gi gima.

I so love this island and the life it shares with me despite how far it is from my own family.

And oh my goodness how I love my family. My daughter is now the mother who brings magic (my grandchildren are so lucky to be raised with her — and of course their father’s — love), my oldest son is in his own phase of waxing brightly toward fatherhood, and my youngest is in the midst of paving his path to happiness. I soooo miss not being able to be with them full time, but I am so incredibly proud of how they’ve transitioned into the adults I hoped they would become. They’ve taken what light I may have given them and made it their own.

It’s appropriate that my first post of the new year began because of a moon that refuses to go quietly into the day, and who is preparing for her full light tomorrow. Our first full moon of the year is the Wolf moon, which symbolizes instinct, survival and community. It is also a reminder to reflect and renew.

I can’t think of a better metaphor to bring in 2026 — a year we need to include lots of love, healing, resilience and movement toward, well, forward.

May we all take the time to reflect and repair while also being surrounded by the love and support of our packs (we humans belong to more than one).

Happy New Year everyone! May your light burn brightly throughout all that this year throws at you.