The Season of Rebuilding: Hope Rising from the Ashes – A Reflection on Loss, Gratitude, and Renewal in Pacific Palisades

A couple of weeks ago, we reached for the turkey roasting pan – not realizing we hadn’t replaced it. It was one of those quiet reminders that life after loss is a series of discoveries. Some big, some small, but all part of the same journey toward rebuilding what was taken.

This December, as lights begin to twinkle across Pacific Palisades and the ocean breeze carries that familiar holiday chill, I find myself reflecting on a year that tested – and ultimately strengthened – the very definition of “home.”

Nearly 12 months have passed since the wildfire that changed so many of our lives. The January flames that tore through our hillsides left behind blackened earth, displaced families, and broken hearts. But here we are – still standing, still rebuilding, and still finding light in the darkness.

Impromptu gatherings of displaced Palisadians became regular sessions – new friendships formed as we shared common challenges and small victories. What began as informal meetups around coffee tables evolved into support circles rich with compassion, humor, and practical advice. Nonprofit organizations – new, old, local, and national jumped in to assist survivors, offering everything from temporary housing and legal guidance, to mental health support and rebuilding grants. The sense of unity that emerged has been nothing short of remarkable.

This season, though many of us may stand on lots where our homes once stood, or wait on funds to make needed repairs, we have something deeper: gratitude.

Gratitude for family – for the loved ones who keep us grounded when everything else feels uncertain. Gratitude for neighbors who became friends, and friends who became extended family. And, gratitude for the resilience of the earth itself – or the wildflowers now breaking through the ash, reminding us that beauty and life always return.

For Julia and me, this Christmas will look a little different. The ornaments handed down through generations, and collected through decades, will no longer make their annual Christmas tree visit. But, the ornaments that do hang – from a small tree in a temporary home – will shine just as bright. Because home isn’t built from wood and nails – it’s built from love, resilience, and faith that will be better tomorrow.

As we turn the page on 2025, my wish for our community is simple: that we continue to rebuild not just structures, but lives. That we reach out to those still struggling. And, that we carry forward the lesson this year has etched into our hearts – hope is the most unbreakable foundation of all.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and here’s to a new year filled with light, laughter, and homes that once again, feel whole.

By Richard Lombari

Lombari is a Pacific Palisades resident, Real Estate Wealth Advisor with Sotheby’s International Realty, 2nd Vice Commander of American Legion Post 283, Vice Chair of the Pacific Palisades Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), and Board Member of the Santa Monica Family YMCA.