I met SB when she took over the lease for my apartment in France, and I decided to move into the convent to meet more people. But I missed curfew regularly and started sleeping on the floor of Sarah Beth's apartment. We've been best friends ever since!

Many of the important people in my life met at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Jon is my Best Man because he would step in front of a truck for anyone to save their life. And he and his wife, Nitya, I know would take care of Phoebe in case anything happened.

After Sara Beth abandoned me by moving to San Francisco, she kept telling me that I needed to meet her friend Lisa. We found it impossible to line up our schedules for months... until we did, and then we were friends forever. She was an art and gallery writer for Willamette Week, but she wished she was the books and theater writer. I worked at a snobby art gallery, and wished I working in museum education. We were both equally impoverished and only occasionally talked about art.

Christina and I met on September 18, 2002, premiere night of my play. We have laughed together ever since. She can be heard screaming the loudest at any concert of mine. She put me in charge of transporting her wedding dress to Tahoe. (Seriously surprised it made it.) She also coordinated her own wedding day, right down to the bathroom breaks.

Amanda is a bad-a$$. She plays with fire professionally, plays the violin, and is a mandatory stop every time we go to Eugene. She was one of a tiny minority of women Philosophy majors when we studied at the University of Oregon, and was equally obsessed. We were also equally annoyed by the predominance of young men in Philosophy who would talk over others and dominate conversations, saying, "I haven't read the book, but my personal philosophy is..." We would also shame them when they wouldn't do the reading and wanted us to write their papers for them at philosophy club meetings.

During COVID, Preston and I connected over some deep, meaningful issues. He is a brilliant R&B singer and was one of the the Inception composers favorite mentors. He and his wife, Stef, own the Arthur Murray Woodland Hills studio. Phoebe told me Preston had to approve my style and that she needs to take dance lessons from him because I can't teach her.

Cindy loves bringing all the girls (and guys) together, designs textiles for women's fashion and the home, and is a proponent of all things creative and peaceful. She is social glue in action, and one of the kindest and most inclusive people I know.

When you grow up a video editor, you don't really think about audio... until you meet Matt. And now every production piece is about sound. Matt is the most genuine and humble person I know from UCLA.

Nicole is a paralegal, hula enthusiast, and cat lover, who was my weekly lunch buddy for years in Downtown LA. She's always down for an adventure, a true-blue friend, and won't shy away from telling you what she really thinks.

I first met Justin when he had long hair and was walking down the street in Santa Cruz. He bought my sister from me for $1 at their wedding. And they produced and raised my favorite two kids in the whole world, Kai & Shea (who are currently much taller than in this picture). Justin is all class and brings some sense of balance into the Nakano family. Three days after our wedding, Midori and Justin will celebrate their 25th anniversary. YAY!!!