It's Friday. You shared what has brought you joy in 2023. Plus, ways to celebrate California's extraordinary biodiversity. |
 | | Francesco Ciccolella |
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Today, to help us unwind as we enter the long weekend, I'm sharing some lovely emails that readers have sent me about the good things that have happened so far in 2023. |
As I wrote the last time I published a batch of these notes, I've been trying to cultivate more delight in my life as an antidote to what often feels like a torrent of bad news. One way to do that is simply to acknowledge the small joys in our lives, like a glowing full moon, a particularly ripe peach or the perfect, hard-to-capture photo of your pet. |
It's not often that my inbox seems a delightful place, though it does when I'm reading about your 2023 wins, big and small. Please keep sending them to me at CAtoday@nytimes.com, and please include your full name and the city where you live. |
Here's some of what readers have shared, lightly edited: |
"Last November, I broke my foot in four places and shredded a ligament. The long, snowy winter was spent in bed and in pain. But time is kind, and the body knows how to heal. Even though I'm still limping and not out of pain, I was recently able to savor Diana Ross in concert in the pouring rain, dancing my heart out to those old Supremes goodies, one-legged, cold and in heaven." — Ana Ramana, Mount Shasta |
"After years of wanting to create a garden that I could enjoy, rather than just water and weed, I have finally been able to return my 4,500 square feet of water-guzzling suburban lawn and water-wasting concrete pavement to something like a primordial meadow. The garden is bordered by native California wax myrtles (home to butterflies, with berries enjoyed by birds), and we are installing native plants to provide habitat for pollinators. I now can't wait to spend time in my garden." — Margaret Lukens, Burlingame |
"Our family win was our daughter's graduation from high school. It was a fun celebration, doubly meaningful for what she and her classmates had to endure. They were online and off campus for a year plus. There were wildfires with smoke so thick that the daytime looked like dusk. Yet, they kept going and learned that such endurance is the secret to hard times. You keep going with the support of the people around you, and one day the hard times will end. A very valuable life lesson, indeed." — Carol Castillo, Petaluma |
"The huge amount of rain and snow in California ended a terrible drought and brought oodles of wildflowers and burgeoning trees. Spirits lifted as we hiked, biked, birded and reveled in all the greenery." — Jennifer Russell, Walnut Creek |
"This year, I got to experience my first huge music festival: Coachella! Not long after, I had the privilege of marrying my best friend. Right after my wedding, I got to go to Mexico for the first time and cliff-dive, kayak, swim in cenotes and experience the beautiful Yucatán. From the desert, to marriage, to the tropics! 2023 has been the best year ever spent with new friends, new experiences and love." — Madison Crawford, Simi Valley |
"My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer at the start of the pandemic. We were lucky he was able to complete his treatment amid the scramble. Thankfully, he's in remission. |
Since then, my dad has nagged me to get a colonoscopy, which felt like a bizarre thing to do at 35. The screening felt like an 'older' problem, even though recent medical news suggests the baseline has moved forward to 40-year-old adults. But I recently had my colonoscopy at the ripe age of 37. Everyone, from technicians to nurses, remarked how young I was to be getting the procedure. Afterward, the doctor said it had been a good idea. Subsequent biopsy results indicated I had developed a precancerous polyp — a ticking time bomb — that would have become malignant within two years. I wonder what might've happened had I waited. So glad I didn't. Thanks, Dad." — Ka-Fung Koo, Cupertino |
- Pulling off one last summer getaway is still possible, even over a holiday weekend. Here's how.
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 | | The Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in Los Angeles in 2015.Dean Musgrove/Los Angeles Daily News, via Associated Press, Pool |
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- California officials approved a proposal to increase storage capacity at the site of the country's largest known methane leak, which sickened thousands of families and forced them to leave their homes in Los Angeles in 2015, The Associated Press reports.
- Heat-related illnesses and deaths are on the rise in California and many other parts of the country, The Los Angeles Times reports.
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- Mobile food vendors cropped up in Fresno during the coronavirus pandemic, and the trend shows no sign of slowing, The Fresno Bee reports.
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 | | George Rose/Getty Images |
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Today's tip comes from Beth Epperson, who recommends visiting Ruby Lake in Inyo National Forest in eastern California: |
"There is something magical about a little place called Ruby Lake. It's on the east side of the Sierra, north of Bishop. The trailhead is at 10,000 feet, and the lake is at 10,800. That's not much elevation gain, and the hike in is not far, but it does have a handful of challenges. Hiking up around the back left of the lake leads you into a breathtaking valley. But no matter which way you head, it's wonderful. You can also hike back out a little ways and take the main trail up over Mono Pass. If you hike up to one of the peaks there, you'll be at 12,000 feet." |
Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We'll be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter. |
Recent shifts in how we gather and spend our free time have affected how often we socialize. But our desire to be together and the need for human connection remain unchanged. Tell us about how you gather. |
 | | Carrizo Plain National Monument in Santa Margarita.Mario Tama/Getty Images |
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And before you go, some good news |
The fifth annual California Biodiversity Week kicks off tomorrow with a packed schedule of events exploring the immense biodiversity and many natural wonders of the Golden State. California is the most biodiverse state in the nation; no other state has such a large variety of plants and animals. |
To celebrate that biodiversity, more than 60 events at more than 40 state parks will be held between Sept. 2 and Sept. 10. You can sip coffee while learning about the unique biodiversity of Mount Tamalpais State Park, not far from San Francisco, or go bird-watching in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near San Diego. |
Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Tuesday. Enjoy the long weekend. — Soumya |
Briana Scalia and Maia Coleman contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com. |
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