Stories, Memories, and Thoughts from Altadena
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Since moving to Altadena, my family has gone to our neighbors for a Tree Decorating Party every year, watching our kids join together to hang ornaments that were collected over decades. We had a neighborhood holiday party where we decided on the theme for that years "cookoff". We found community. We also had our youngest's first Christmas there, two weeks before we lost everything. I am working on this donation drive to take a holiday season that I was dreading, and bring back some joy - for myself and everyone around me. And to say thank you all for lifting each other up to get through this difficult rebuilding process. I love you Altadena!
— Ana Medina-Whirledge
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Looking forward to Christmas has kept my spirits up after losing everything in the Eaton Fire. In early August, I sent this Christmas wish to my four adult kids: "One gift I would like from each of you, and each of the grandkids if they want, is a Christmas ornament. I don't have any preferences except something that says YOU. Choose whatever you want. Buy it, make it yourself, get it for free, new or used. That will mean so much more to me than me buying myself a bunch of ornaments.”
— Laura Monteros
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Our children are fortunate to have grown up in home that celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah. For years we decorated our Christmas tree, while listening to the Peanuts Christmas vinyl record from my husbands vinyl collection. I proudly put out our son’s sock snowman, it was 18 years old and he made it in a preschool that was also lost in the fire. I placed my mother’s nativity set, which she lovingly gifted to me and which I prized because she no longer is with us. We had handmade decorations, gifted ones, ones passed down by my mother. We proudly lit up the menorah I gifted to my husband while we dated, not knowing one day it would be a cherished family heirloom lost in the fire. We had great holiday seasons in our home, full of rituals, light and good food. We were especially proud of our enchi-latkas, done on Christmas Day. My husband cooked the latkas while I made enchiladas and both families gathered to enjoy our collided and united worlds.
— Elizabeth Gonzalez
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Every home holds its own meaning to the family who built a life there. Beyond that loss, we have been grieving the loss of our community! We were neighbors who raised our children together & lived life as one big family. We celebrated holidays and beyond, waking up Christmas mornings with a knock on the door by one of our neighbors who made us Christmas cookies, sitting at our porch greeting every other walking by with their pets and sharing stories from daily events! We were there for one another through injuries, illnesses, and all other unexpected events. When this tragedy occurred we were in the midst of planning our January cook off day. We are losing each other’s daily company, check ins, and much more but we have not lost our community spirit. As we approach the holiday season we would be forever grateful as you’d take a moment to read our stories & provide support! Love ❤️ all!
- Emily Broberg