I’m sitting in my longtime friend Lisa’s beautiful new home in San Francisco, trying to rest up and dry out (sinus wise) before we head out to see the Melvins and Redd Kross tonight at the Great American Music Hall. What year is this, now?

Like me, Lisa has a lot of positive changes happening after some not-so-positive ones. I think we’re both looking forward to the new year and more good things happening. I like that we’re together to usher in 2014 — and tomorrow we gather with other friends to start the Year of 50th Birthday Mania, starting with Moya.

This has been an outstanding trip! Notable moments amongst many:

Stopover in Phoenix on my way to Boston, just to add an extra layer of memory and introspection into things.

A half hour in my nephew’s home-made sensory deprivation tank in the basement in Cambridge. Epsom Salts made skin sting; occasional drops from ceiling would startle; tried not to think that I was in a big coffin in the basement. However! It was funner than I thought; it’s remarkable to have skin, water and air the exact same temperature; so floaty! I wriggled out, thinking “now I’m ready to try for real.”

Family-created Nativity scene, featuring Lady in the Diabetes Medication Print Ad as the baby J.

Had a brief lunch with old friend Margaret in Peekskill. Delightful to see her, and delightful to overhear a conversation between three young men on the train back, who were en route to a concert in Manhattan. Their manner, dress, and conversation was so very out of time — it could have been 19712, 1978, 1989, 1995, now. I imagined that they were train-riding ghosts, ever riding the Express to fun, adventure and rock n roll.

Got to see Twelfth Night on Broadway. So, so good. I don’t often alight in NY long enough to schedule in a play, and boy, am I glad Tamar and Rich gifted me this time. Wow.

Not pictured: Four adorable great nephews and one adorable great niece, all outstanding, gorgeous, intelligent and squeezable. Another insane and perfect shopping spree at Fever. A wonderful drive to NY with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew, who I love with all my heart. After-karaoke snacks at Churchill’s in the wee of the night with Chris making me double over with laughter.

Cheesy, but: togetherness, family, friends, love, gratitude. THAT’S what it’s all about.