Claire Bidwell Smith

Four months into our new life in California and we’re making small attempts here and there to fit in with the surfers and skaters and balmy weather. Over the summer Greg bought his first pair of white jeans, Veronica has remained endlessly tan and I’ve kind of fallen in love with the fact that there Read more…

Dear Vera, I am long overdue in writing your monthly letter. Apologies. This summer has been a whirlwind. One day you’ll be a college freshman somewhere and will casually answer someone’s question of where you grew up. I was born in Chicago, you’ll say, but we moved to Los Angeles when I was two. And Read more…

It’s been a busy week already, this first week of September. I got some truly incredible news about my book on Tuesday morning, that I can’t share here right now, but which has elevated my week and my perspective to unmatched heights. It’s cast a strange haze over the way I view my life, my Read more…

We’re five days into our new life in Santa Monica. Also five days without Internet (gasp, the horror) since our wireless router didn’t arrive before the holiday weekend. I’m tapping this out from a Starbucks up the street while Greg and V are at the park. The last few days have been an absolute blur Read more…

Four years ago today I was seated behind the steering wheel of a large moving truck, driving through the middle of the country on my way to a new life in Chicago. Today, exactly four years later, I am busy packing and cleaning and finishing up my very last day in Topanga, as I prepare Read more…

At long last the search is over. We signed the lease on a little house in Santa Monica yesterday. It’s pretty perfect. In a great neighborhood with wonderful parks and schools, biking distance to the beach and walkable coffee shops and restaurants. It’s a two bedroom with hardwood floors and a fireplace and an office. Read more…

It’s Tuesday, August 2nd and I’ve probably refreshed my craigslist search for a 2 bedroom in Santa Monica twenty times this afternoon. Oh, don’t worry I’ve been on Westside Rentals, PadMapper and HotPads too. The truth is that we suddenly have 28 days to find a place to live and I’m beginning to panic a Read more…

Greg’s parents are in town this week and we went to the Getty yesterday. My cousin Ron met us there and got us a behind-the-scenes tour from his friend who is an art restorer. I’ve been to the Getty dozens of times, but this added a truly spectacular level to it. Anyway, here’s a photo Read more…

It was a lovely weekend, full of friends and cooking and languid hours spent outside in the warm sunshine. On Friday Liz and the kids came up for an afternoon visit. My cousin Ron dropped by, fresh from a swim in the ocean, and we all ate supper outside on the deck, palm trees swaying Read more…

In case you’ve been wondering, the latest is that we still have no idea where we’re going to be living come September. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve come mighty close to signing three different leases, but then decided for one reason or another, that none of them were just right for our little Read more…