The year 2022 was a return to “normal” post-Pandemic life, which was wonderful. There were no major life changes, but there were a lot of wonderful moments to remember. Health I feel blessed to be in my 50s and able to do all that I do, from skating to dancing to biking everywhere. The biggest…
Category: Family
My First Sponge Layer Cake: 4 Layer Mango Cake!
We celebrated a milestone birthday for our mom this weekend. So for the occasion, I decided to try to make my first sponge layer cake. Mom wanted a mango cake, so made one based on this recipe from Tatyana. The cake came together pretty easily in my stand mixer. I let them cool for several…
Aria and Riki’s Disneyland Adventure!
I’ve been to Disneyland who knows how many times in my fortunate life. But this last trip may be one of the sweetest: my first Disney trip with my niece Aria. There are lots of ways to experience Disney parks — with your family, with friends, solo. I’ve done them all — with the exception…
The Three Purposes of Community
Someone said that true communities served 3 basic needs: to welcome and appreciate you, to help when you are sick or in need, and to remember you when you are gone. It came to me today at Quaker Meeting that these are also things that drive us to seek a life partner. (“In sickness and…
2021 in Review: New Name, Skate Dancing, Tropical Trippin, and Lots of Bakes
The year 2021 was not quite the dumpster fire that 2020 was. There’s a lot that I am thankful for about this year – my supportive family, good friends, my health, meaningful employment, quad skating, baked goods, and so much more! Here’s some of the best bits. Rik to Riki This year, among my friends…
Riki: My new / old name
Several months ago, I started going by “Riki” instead of “Rik.” It began almost subconsciously as I was meeting new people at the skating rink. I didn’t know why I was suddenly introducing myself as “Riki” but I just went with it. Slowly I started expanding this practice, and now in informal settings, it’s just…
Celebrating My Golden Birthday with Pastries, Skating and Jazz
This year, I was so happy to get to celebrate my birthday with actual physical gatherings with my loved ones. As a theme, I decided to lean into this being my “golden” years with a couple of very sparkly gold outfits. The festivities began on the morning of July 3 at my favorite SF bakery,…
Christmas, 1978
That is one happy kiddo!
Growing Up as a Coconut
I spent most of my childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. That sounds like a great cultural landscape to grow up within, with its diverse mix of races and peoples from all over the world. My reality was quite different. Specifically I grew up in Pleasanton, California, a large town about an hour away…
Dad and Nana Olen, 1968, Manila International Airport
This is my dad in 1968 with his mom, about to get on his first plane ride in his life from his home in Manila to Phoenix, Arizona, USA, a place he knows nothing about. When I think about doing something scary, I want to remember what this must have felt like for him to…