16 years ago, after losing my job during the financial crisis of 2008 and newly married, I packed my Jeep with a couple suitcases, a surfboard and a dog and left for California looking to start a new life. I had no roots here, had barely even visited before, other than a couple of short trips. I was just looking for a change, warm weather, year-round surf and some good tacos. I spent my first 6 months bouncing around from motel, to sublet then finally signed a short-term lease in the Valley for a year while looking for work. I knew I loved it and wanted to stay but the future was very uncertain. Driving down Topanga Canyon 4 days a week or so to surf I passed the pig with wings that is a sort of landmark there and always loved that image. I’m actually pulling this off against the odds like that flying pig. One day after a morning surf session, I decided to take a detour south down the Pacific Coast Highway and up Sunset Boulevard. A few traffic lights up I entered this amazing little village, which I later learned was called the “Pacific Palisades”. At the time there was a bookstore, sporting goods store, French restaurant, supermarket. Everything one needs and it reminded me very much of my favorite towns in Long Island, NY except without a winter. So of course I went back. I called the numbers on the “for rent” signs and found us a perfect little rent-controlled apartment maybe a mile up from the beach. I was living in the Truman Show (ironically the name of my dog at the time). White picket fences beautiful houses, flowers and views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains everywhere. A place this city kid from Manhattan always dreamed of living. A couple years in I had my first child Julieta and that’s when we really felt the warmth of the community. A few years later a second child, Valentina Rose was born and before I knew it, I was raising two beautiful little girls in the most ideal place I could imagine. It was a paradise for all of us that lived there. Once school started there were familiar faces everywhere. Dads hanging out at the local Japanese restaurants bar, The Pearl Dragon. The morning parade of parents and children on their way to our beautiful “school by the sea”. Kids hanging out at the local Bodega “Ronnies”. We all knew our good fortune, loved and supported each other. We were Palisidians and we didn’t take it for granted. On Tuesday January 7, 2025 I packed a backpack, grabbed some water and raced down the hillside at the end of my block, escaping an out of control fire by an hour or so. A fire that destroyed our entire town. Our schools and churches burnt to a crisp with mostly rubble and ash left. I write this from my laptop, wearing the only pair of pants and shirt that I now own, living temporarily in an Airbnb on the other side of town. I arrived here with nothing and left wealthier than I could ever imagine in the things that matter. Two beautiful children, a new dog I adore, lifetime friends and 13 years of amazing memories. Even knowing the sad end to my life in the Palisades, I’d sign up for it all over again in a heartbeat. Anyway, that’s my story short and sweet and this is my Go Fund Me.

PS the picture of the Bench and Tree still standing is the top of the trail I came down on my way out. I walked my daughters as infants there every single day to sit on that bench, under that tree. It was my happy place and I’m glad to see it survived. I’ll come back to visit sometime I’m sure