Garvin

2025 has been a wonderful year so far! I’ve continued to play guitar, and recently played in a show at my music school with some friends! I was very nervous, but I made it all the way through Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones, and I can’t wait to play up on stage again soon. In February, I took a trip to New Orleans with my aunts and cousins. We had a blast exploring the city (the weather was fantastic), eating amazing New Orleans food, and spending time with one another. Freddie met one of my friends babies and was a very good boy! He was curious and gentle. It made me so happy to see him engage with this tiny soul. Freddie is also happy to report that he is still devastatingly handsome. My nephew Johnny is in the first grade! I can’t believe how time has flown. He loves reading, art, and magic tricks.

2024 was a wonderful year filled with travel, music, and friends. I started off the year by trying to teach myself to play guitar using YouTube videos. My dad had an old Martin that he wasn’t using, and he gave it to me, so I have a beautiful guitar to play on. After a few weeks of YouTube lessons, I decided to find a guitar teacher. I’ve been taking lessons for almost a year now, and it is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It has helped me understand artistic collaboration, has given me a greater sense of empathy for my students (learning is hard work!), and has even prompted me to get up on stage a few times to perform in front of my students, colleagues, and friends. Music has always been a part of my life, but now I get to participate in it, and it feels amazing. This is a love I will certainly pass along to my child. In the summer of 2024, I took an incredible trip to Mexico City with my two best friends, Kk and Bethany. We explored the city, took a tour of Teotihuacan, and ate amazing food. In the week I was there I fell in love with the city, and I can’t wait to take my child there to visit. Thanksgiving and Christmas were great fun in my family this year. Everyone was in town to celebrate together. My mom cooked a tasty Thanksgiving dinner, and my dad made his signature standing rib roast for Christmas lunch. I’m looking forward to carrying on old traditions and creating new ones as my family grows. These holidays are also my opportunity to catch up with my high school girlfriends, some of whom have moved away and are only home once a year to visit.

Books: The Great Believers, High Fidelity, Crime and Punishment, Demon Copperhead, and The Goldfinch Television: The Bear, Schitt’s Creek, Friday Night Lights, Succession, and Top Chef Flowers: Gardenia, Hydrangea, and Peony Movies: Clueless, Father of the Bride, The Family Stone, Rushmore, and High Fidelity Music: The Clash, The Kinks, Queen, Lady Gaga, and Dwight Yoakam To cook: Gnocchi, Pierogies, Bolognese, Pot Pies, and Lasagna

Hello, I'm Caroline, Garvin's sister. I am a mom and an artist, and my favorite hobby is growing as a human being. My relationship with my sister is one of the things I am most proud of in life. We have always turned to one another to figure out life's curveballs, and we have taken on life's challenges knowing that we have each other, no matter what. My sister is centered, dependable, adventurous, hilarious, organized, responsible, and honest. Her kindness comes from the deepest well. My son, Johnny, just turned 6. Gaga, as he calls her, is his favorite person after me. Being a single mom is hard - nothing has ever tested me so much. At the same time, nothing has ever caused me to listen, learn, and grow as much. I know that my sister understands that because I see the same things happening within her. She is not just Johnny's aunt. She is a trusted caretaker who plays a large part in shaping his understanding of the world. It brings me so much peace knowing that Garvin is here with me. I know that she is even more capable than I am of navigating life with a little partner by her side. I learn so much from her every time I see her interact with Johnny. When I pick him up from her house there is always so much for them to show me. Physics projects, secret hideouts under the stairs, and gardens they have planted. Johnny tells me stories of their adventures across the city with the biggest smiles. I joke that Garv took all of the energy genes and there were none left for me when I was born! Garvin is always concerned for Johnny's feelings and I look forward to our conversations about what they talked about and what she observed after she spends one-on-one time with him. It brings me so much joy to hear how she encourages him to be kind, independent, curious, and comfortable asking questions. She teaches him to be a problem solver - to know that everything he needs to figure anything out is already inside of him. Garvin reminds me, without ever saying it, that these are the things we want for our children. I promise to do the same for her. Garvin is a deeply caring person. I see it in the way she loves and cares for me, for her pets, for Johnny, for her friends, and for her students. Even for her plants! She is incredibly strong and has been since we were kids. She knows who she is and I think that allows her to accept others exactly as they are, never wanting to change them. Thank you for considering my sister - I am so excited to welcome her child into our family. Caroline

Things that make me happy: Watching Freddie run around at the bay Helping my students grow as learners Johnny’s laughter and curiosity Solving puzzles Winter weather Spending time by the water Cooking Figuring out a difficult math problem Playing Animal Crossing Going to the farmer’s market

Dogs have been an important part of my life. I grew up with dogs and they have always been members of our family. I think that family dogs can play a valuable role in teaching children empathy and boundaries, and Freddie has done just that with my nephew Johnny - they are great friends! Freddie loves to go on adventures in the neighborhood and at the bay. He is an active and affectionate dog who loves kids and will be a great dog brother.

My stepmom Cindy's bay house is a special place for me and my family. It's where we go to enjoy time together in the outdoors. My sister and I have great memories of being kids there, and I'm so excited for my child to build core memories there one day soon. When at the bay, we sail, fish, and remember to slow down and enjoy our time together.