My sweet Grandma Bonnie passed away peacefully in her sleep this past Thursday night. I’m beyond devastated and am still reeling from the loss. She was a source of warmth, love, support and joy my entire life, and I can’t imagine a world without her. She was the best, and I always felt so safe and loved in her arms, holding her hand, and laying my head on her appliquéd shoulder. She would have been 88 yesterday and had been married to Papa Walt for 70 years! (Can you believe?!) I got to spend the last few days with my family mourning our collective loss and celebrating her life. We did as many of Grandma’s favorite things as we could fit in to ensure she’d be looking down on us with a smile and stamp of approval. We gathered on the patio and ate a spaghetti dinner from her favorite place called Vince’s, played a game of 88 (on her 88th birthday no less), rolled our dice for game or two of Yahtzee, enjoyed In ‘N’ Out on the front lawn as the nieces played in the driveway, toured her closet of self-appliquéd “blouses” and matching earrings, and reminisced and gold favorite stories of life with “The Queen of Everything!” What a beautiful life she had, and I’ll miss her bright blue eyes and radiant smile and everlasting supply of hard candies everyday. Rest In Peace (and power) my beloved Grandma. 
One of the hardest things for me during these dumb COVID times is not being able to eat (and drink) out in Seattle. It’s kinda my favorite past time. The vibes, the people, the out and about ness of it all. I officially became a foodie after moving here because the food scene is soooo good and just so my style. I’m so inspired by the whole experience of eating out at my fave restaurants around town and I miss it so much. Boooo! And while we’ve done our fair share of takeout, it’s definitely not the same as being in the space and feeling alllll the vibes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thankfully, things are starting to open up a bit more with indoor dining, and I’ve gotten to eat at some of my faves recently (which means all @eatseacreatures / @chefreneeerickson restaurants. Haha) and it’s been giving me life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Anyone else missing their local watering holes? Damn you, Corona. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photo at @thewalrusbar in its normal state pre-Covid. 
These girls are the best. The end. 
New furniture, who dis?! Hehe. Everything finally arrived and is perfect, and I’m in love. We’d originally ordered new sofas back in January from a local place but oddly they ghosted us, took our money but never ordered them and never responded to any voicemails or messages. Thank the sweet Lord for credit card disputes and buyer protection! Then we ordered other ones from Pottery Barn, waited 4 months, only for them to be all wrong and cheap looking (even though the were not)! So we promptly had them haul those away only to be back to square one again! But then things took a turn when we finally sucked it up and went to Restoration Hardware and did it up right. And I’m so happy we did because they are so comfy, pretty and well built. If you need me I’ll be on my OWN couch and @darrenhansen will be on his. 
My heart has been heavy as I’ve listened in on various stories from various Black industry peers, friends, and strangers alike. Hearing the pain and angst in their voices has brought me to a somber, convicted and aware place, and now more than ever I’m so deeply against the daily racism the Black community faces and especially against the horrifying acts of violence against the Black community as of late. It’s not okay. Period. I hesitate to add any white noise right now (especially as a privileged white man), but if I can add any sound to the chorus may it be one of solidarity, of love, of support and of outrage. I’m just so wrecked over everything happening right now and my heart hurts knowing so many beautiful, amazing people are in so much pain right now. I don’t know exactly what to say or where to go from here, and I can’t begin to understand what it’s like to be Black in America by any stretch of the imagination, but what I do know is that I want to stand with you and for you and don’t want that painful and unjust reality to be yours any longer. It’s gone on for long enough, and I hope and pray that THIS time we can collectively be the change we want to see in the world. The change that Black lives deserve. I hope for a better tomorrow. I long for the day when Black men won’t be murdered at the hands of racist cops simply because of the color of their skin. I pray that someway, somehow we can learn to work from a new place because clearly the old system is broken and unjust and we need to know knock it down and rebuild so that we can experience a world wherein all men and women of every race are truly equal. I certainly don’t know the way, but I will say I too am committed to learning and unlearning, to checking my privilege, and to engaging in the important conversation about race and diversity. “I’ll hold the door open for it’s the least I can do.” And I’ll listen and learn and then, do better. As @barackobama said, “If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals." I’m in for that. 
I’m listening. Black Lives Matter. #blackouttuesday