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Rosie Whinray's avatar

I remember the first day of 2020 vividly. The smoke from the bushfires in Australia was blowing across the Tasman, occluding the sun here in Aotearoa New Zealand, & casting everything into a weird sepia tone. I had never seen light like it— it felt very ominous, apocalyptic, even. In some places people could smell the smoke, too. It was happening across the sea, but here it was with us, the disaster, everywhere you looked. I made a drawing of myself in this weird light, & tried to read the omen. I decided it was going to be a very weird year, & resolved that now was the time to become more public in my Wizarding. If it was the end of the world coming, then I had nothing to lose: I might as well go full Wizard.

Relatedly, I have been listening a lot lately to Richard Dawson's excellent album 2020... which he made in 2019.

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Sari Botton's avatar

<3

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Rosie Whinray's avatar

I included the drawing in my Notes version of this comment, here: https://substack.com/profile/113174145-rosie-whinray/note/c-194068943?

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Sari Botton's avatar

It’s wonderful.

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Peter Moore's avatar

I had two glasses of wine with NYE dinner last night, and later fell into bed like I'd been drugged. So your symptoms and causes hit home! But where would I be without Montepulciano d'Abruzzo? Another conundrum to work out in 2026.

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Brooke Warner's avatar

Happy New Year, Sari. I admire you right back, and appreciate so much all the ways you support people with your various communities and initiatives. Excited to see what 2026 has in store for us!

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Sari Botton's avatar

Thank you, Brooke! Happy New Year to you and yours!

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JeannineBee9's avatar

We were involved with the Hunger Project through World Runners. I did the logistics for the first 24-hour run in NorCal in 1985. Given what came out later, I imagine we funded Werner’s yacht life. He’d have fit right in w Epstein’s billionaire island crowd.

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Sari Botton's avatar

Oh, wow!!! Been wondering. Thanks for that update.

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JeannineBee9's avatar

We were involved with the Hunger Project through World Runners. I did the logistics for the first 24-hour run in NorCal in 1985. Given what came out later, I imagine we funded Werner’s yacht life. He’d have fit right in w Epstein’s billionaire island crowd. 🤪

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Karen Davis's avatar

You got me wondering where all the money for the Hunger Project went. My college roommate and BFF was a big supporter and family friend o f Ehrhardt’s

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Sari Botton's avatar

I have no idea…

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Kelly Thompson TNWWY's avatar

Interesting.

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Richard Donnelly's avatar

I lived in LA as a young man. Gotta tell ya, I don't think I would have noticed an earthquake : )

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SAMUEL MASKET's avatar

We are the "family" in LA and we knew then that you were destined for greatness; love your work. A very proud Uncle Sam!

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Sari Botton's avatar

Awww, thank you, Uncle Sam!! <3 <3 <3

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Deborah Sosin's avatar

Happy New Year, Sari! Thanks for all you offer this community in so many ways.

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Sari Botton's avatar

Thank you, Deborah! Happy new year to you, too! 🎊

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Catherine Texier's avatar

Happy New Year Sari!

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Sari Botton's avatar

And to you, Catherine! Let’s see each other soon! xo

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Gillian Longworth McGuire's avatar

Buon Anno!! 🎆☀️

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Sari Botton's avatar

And to you! 🎉

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Gloria's avatar

Happy New Year! Gotta love the California earthquakes! (I'm originally from Northern California). Very memorable day for you!

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Sari Botton's avatar

Happy new year to you, too, Gloria. 🎉

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Patricia Henley's avatar

Thanks for the NPR segment on alcohol use. I, too, don't drink, even though I don’t have an addiction to alcohol. I quit several years ago for reasons mentioned in this NPR story. I am still amazed at the clear-headedness I experience every morning since I quit alcohol.

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Sari Botton's avatar

It’s definitely improved my life.

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Elizabeth Jannuzzi's avatar

Starting JanYourStory today at 1 p.m. ET! Happy New Year, Sari!

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Sari Botton's avatar

Nice! Happy new year, Elizabeth. 🎉

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McDowell Graham's avatar

While not earth-shattering, I too had a memorable New Year's Day. The author, Christiane Northrup, said this: “Our souls design many potent wake-up calls to get our attention back on track.” As it turned out, it only took one potent wake-up call for me to gain clarity and insight about where I’ve been, where I am now, and where I’m heading. Because everything I needed to know about moving to a place of illumination I learned by locking myself in my dark, empty barn three acres away from my nearest neighbor in the wee hours of the morning on New Year’s Day 2005. No electricity, no water – and no cell phone because I wasn’t planning on staying down at the barn so it didn’t occur to me to bring it along. While not so funny at the time, it's become the foundation of my business. Happy New Year to all!

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Sari Botton's avatar

Wow. 🎉

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