In August I was dazzled by the Solar Eclipse, warmed by the high summer heat in Cologne, and cooked along with events in professional, creative, and personal life.
In August I was dazzled by the Solar Eclipse, warmed by the high summer heat in Cologne, and cooked along with events in professional, creative, and personal life.
In the seventh month of 2026 I celebrated 7 years living in Cologne, Germany with my beloved partner, brought another schoolyear to an end, celebrated Gay PRIDE in Cologne and lots more!
June to me means PRIDE and my birthday month (though Cologne celebrates PRIDE/Christopher Street Day in July), the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Refugees’ Day, end-of-schoolyear celebrations and goodbyes.
I also like to do some midyear reflection, lots of strawberry eating, rose sniffing, cake, hopeful for sunshine and warmth as spring flowers yield summer fruits in the northern hemisphere.
In the fifth month of 2026 I celebrated my father’s 80th birthday, little nephew’s 3rd, adventures around Hawai’i Island, big personal news, travel back to Germany to be received by a Renaissance Festival and Culinary tour!
The fourth month of 2026 featured Cherry Blossoms in Cologne, Jacaranda in Kona, and blooms everywhere in-between.
The third month of 2026 for me featured collaborating on International Women’s Day, a production of “The Nutcracker” ballet, Easter and the Spring Equinox among the bright green leaves and first butterfly appearances.
February brought me a sampler of this winter’s viruses. Still did a bit of teaching and creating, Karneval celebrating and game-watching, but getting sick put a serious crimp in my style!
The parent of a curious, talented, and hardworking young ballet student asked me recently what resources I recommend for dancers to learn more about topics such as Anatomy, Kinesiology, Movement Science, and Injury-Prevention. They had noticed some of my articles on Movement Analysis and Sustainable, Mindful Movement and wanted to see what further tools I might know of.
The first month of 2026 was absolutely packed, with a bit of restful reflection at the start and then a full-tilt boogie back into teaching and creating, plus more snowy wintery weather than I have yet to see in Cologne!
Twenty Twenty-Five
so glad to be alive,
finding me floating,
spreading wings to fly.
That’s an excerpt from the poem I shared when I declared my Word of the Year and practices to make it so.
Here I reflect on the soaring times and storms of 2025.