Ashes and the Aftermath

I returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday after two weeks on the road. Upon arrival I inspected the backyard and discovered the burn line came about 20 feet from our wooden deck. The dry boards would have been the perfect kindling to set the property ablaze. Our home backs up to Westridge-Canyonback Park where the fire raged uncontrollable for days. The park is also known as the Big Wild, a 20,000-acre urban wilderness normally full of wildlife and adventure but this early evening it was dead silent. When my eyes caught my neighbors American Flag lit up and waving on the hill it felt like a testament to the bravery of the pilots and firemen who saved our canyon. In the middle of the night I was woken by our local owl. I jumped out of bed and went to the window to see them but the new moon left the landscape dark. Still I was thrilled to hear the who-who’s as they too checked in on one another.

On January 16th I made my way east to Washington, D.C. I wanted to be there for Bobby and also experience history. I did not expect a southern snow storm to derail my plans. After accepting my fate I leaned into the detour and spent the weekend in Charleston with family and friends. The stars and planets literally aligned while I was on Sullivan’s Island. It was fun catching up with Shep and others with a cocktail and delicious food at Fish Camp. I felt relieved to finally catch my breath because I knew I would have to hit the ground running in California.

On the plane I watched Karoline Leavitt as she did her first press conference. I felt so much pride and ended up bonding with the passengers in my row. The older gentleman on the aisle could not believe I was so engaged with a press conference. He was thrilled to see a younger generation wanting to be involved and caring so much. I told him I had worked with RFKj for the last two years and his eyes lit up. It was then that I found out he was in the medical industry. His travels were bringing him to LA to pitch his new product to a team of doctors and he had much to say about the current state of health care and the bureaucracy that keeps us all sick. In the center seat was a middle aged Asian woman, she was visiting her sister who was affected by the Eaton fires. I opened up about the Palisades and we found ourselves both in tears. I had suppressed those emotions to get through everything on the east coast but as we flew closer and closer I felt the fear rise in me again.

I was also glad when she chose to watch ‘It Ends with Us’ a film I have not been able to bring myself to consume but was happy to get the cliff notes over her shoulder. The film is based on a novel centered around domestic violence. I suppose that is why extra attention was ended up on the leading actors as they sued each other with claims of sexual misconduct. In case you are not familiar with the drama. Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds were at the center of the lawsuit against fellow actor and director Justin Baldoni. The mud slinging got so intense that as of today the case might be dropped to salvage what is left of the hit makers names. It made me sad to see a cast turn against one another. I was not there for any of this but in my experience filming you become like a little family and I feel should protect each other from outside forces. I only bring this whole thing up because I hope this is the case that stops all the suing and name calling our society has become reliant on over the last few years. Everyone looks bad and no one walks away a winner. Between movies and the news I can honestly say I walked off that flight with two new friends.

Wednesday morning I was glued to the hearings. I knew there would be opposition against Robert F Kennedy jr. as so many of our Senators have Big Pharma in their pockets and they are now Big Scared. Another senator compared Bobby to a rock star, and claimed his influence would sway people away from vaccines and ensured doom and gloom will persist if RFKj was confirmed. The courtroom was packed, spill over rooms were at capacity and even the streets surrounding Capitol Hill were full of MAHA advocates. I guess as far as politicians go this is rock star status. Everyone who showed us is really promoting truth and showing with action that we want a more transparent health care system.

On the one hand, I was happy everyone finally got to see Bobby speak as he had been blocked from the debates and most news outlets will not touch us as we go against the narrative they have forced down our throats the last few years. On the other hand, I was outraged as some Senators chose to use their allotted time to slander him, let the clock runout and not allow for a rebuttal. A coward if you ask me. Thank goodness for Bernie Sanders and a bit of levity as he shouted, “Do you support these onesies.” I could see Cheryl Hines, wife of Bobby, try to hide a smile. The absurdity was not lost on the internet and memes exploded that afternoon, also drawing a comparison to Cheryl’s onscreen husband Larry David.

Mr. David has even played Bernie in skits and has tried to keep a low profile during the Kennedy campaign. I would love to check in with Larry and see how he feels about it all now. Years ago Larry’s now wife Ashley Underwood worked on ‘Southern Charm’ and I could not believe when Larry told me he thought I was funny. I have to humble brag about this because every time my boyfriend says that I am not funny I like to remind him that Larry says otherwise and he is an authority on hilarity. My beau has never seen the show and likes to forget anyone thinks of me as “famous” for the most part I try and forget too. These last few years y’all have humbled me with love and support as I timidly entered the political arena. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone for reading my little stories. Your support has made all the difference not only for me but for our country.

JD Vance made a very good point when questioned about the RFKj hearings that if Bobby is not confirmed all these new voters will lose faith in the process. To see our movement matter and to engage a whole new generations of voters has been remarkable. JD and I are the same age and I never thought I mattered. OK maybe I could entertain people and make them laugh, give them a break from the harsh realities we face but I never imagined I could bring about real change. Everyone I have met on the campaign trail felt the same way, to borrow a Democrat buzz word they felt ‘seen’.

Bobby started this race as a lifelong Democrat and through the course of the campaign decided to seek truth versus a party. Selling the truth is how Trump won and a red wave took over the White House. The media will still not admit defeat. NY Magazine released a cover this week claiming we were the cruel kids table. In actuality they cropped any one of color out of the photo and laid font over the rest of the party goers that did not fit their narrative. This particular ball for the Youth Advisory Council was co-chaired by CJ Pearson—a Black conservative. I hope to meet him soon and would love to be at the next party to support American youth and continue to spread the MAHA message. I reached out to him and will let y’all know if we get an event on the books. But today we need all the love and prayers you can muster and speak to the hearts of the Senators that remain on the fence about RFKjr. Confirming his nomination is the final piece of the puzzle to get this country back on track.

After freaking out about the hearings. I headed over to the Palisades to see the destruction first hand. They were only letting residents in but I still had a press pass from D.C. and they granted me access. I never want to fib to authority so below is my reporting in photos. There is not much to say once you see these, I personally lack the words. My photos do not do justice to the scale of destruction, from everywhere I stood the ruins went as far as I could see. My only solace was in a perfect rose in the middle of the ashes. A symbol of California and a reminder that there is hope.

Everyone in Charleston questioned why I would return to such devastation and I reminded them that this has also been my home for almost 20 years. I asked them if a hurricane wiped out Charleston would you flee or stay and fight. Fight, fight, fight was the unanimous reply.

The remaining chimneys felt very profound they reminded me of tombstones marking where a family once lived. A near by tree swing broke my heart, this neighborhood was full of children and I know one day their laughter will return. My boyfriend’s daughter lost her school and standing at the auditorium steps left me in disbelief. Last spring the parents had assembled for the orchestra concert and now all that remains is the threshold and some of the original tiles. The school was built in the late 1920’s and dedicated in 1930 most likely the tiles were constructed from local clay and created at Malibu Potteries, a tile company that also burnt down, luckily there are craftsman recreating these pieces, I know this because I have used them on other interior design projects. These little cues from our past ignite something deep within me. Those tiles represent people who came before us and made me feel a responsibility to use my historic preservation degree to help rebuild this dream town by the sea.

I am going to spend this weekend at home letting everything sink in. I am working on my own restoration project as our house was covered in phos-chek dropped by the planes to save us. We already had it pressure washed off but the yard is a mess and every air filter needs to be changed and surface wiped down. Last night I made a Brunswick Stew. (The link is from Garden and Gun Magazine who published the recipe from my dear friend Griffin Bufkin. He started Southern Soul on St. Simons Island and I love that I can share his take on an island classic.) I was inspired by my trip to Charleston and felt like the best way to honor my still standing kitchen was to get in there and cook.

Hope y’all have a restful weekend too. Do a little soul searching and a little wandering. On Sunday the Groundhog will reveal if we stay frozen in time or get to have the joys of spring early.