In early January both of my daughters went back to college. This lasted for 12 hours and by ten a.m. the next day I was driving back to the airport to collect my older daughter who decided to spend her January term at home.
I thought I would be an empty-nester by now, but it hasn’t turned out that way. Yet, it’s been an enjoyable few weeks, cooking dinner together and watching the Bachelor, which I doubt I would watch on my own. Meanwhile, I’m working diligently as always. I’m getting ready to pitch my company Ocean SF to Silicon Valley Forum’s sold out Focus on Fashion & Beauty Tech. I’ve done two pitches so far and both have invested in me, so I am fairly confident this too will go well. I’m tightening up my deck and meeting with my advisors. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity and I’m really excited about it and sharing my story and my company with such a large audience. I’m especially happy my daughter will be by my side. She’s my biggest fan and we have a blast doing anything related to Ocean SF together. When I first started Ocean SF she would tell people I was fighting plastic literally. She would recount her childhood memories of how much I despised polyester and how she wasn’t allowed to wear it, drink out of plastic water bottles and that I even resented her barbies. So, it’s exciting that she will be here for this big pitch. It would feel strange to not have her here.
The Ocean SF journey has been long. Almost four years ago I contracted with a former Gucci pattern maker to make my first Ocean SF prototype. On the day it arrived I was on a sailboat in San Francisco Bay in a sailboat race. My daughter opened it up, put it on and sent me a picture just as the race started. So much has happened since then, including the sudden death of my husband. There were many times when it would have been easier to quit and get a real job. To say I am passionate about my company is an understatement. I love it like I love my children. I am up at 5 a.m. working on it until I go to one of my many side hustles. During the period since my husband’s death I’ve washed dishes, catered, worked as a security guard, walked dogs, bottled liquor in a distillery, taught classes at UC Berkeley and worked teaching language arts.
During that time, I was determined to further my vision for Ocean SF. But, at the same time Ocean SF was the guiding light through some of the darkest days of my life. After working so hard to continue with my dream of sustainable and ethically produced outdoor apparel I am now watching it all come to fruition. Things are falling into place in ways I could not have foreseen. I am not the empty-nester I thought I would be either, but because of that I have my beautiful daughter to share these moments with. Things don’t always work out the way we plan, but we can make the most of the opportunities we are given, use our talents and abilities and follow our path faithfully. It’s been a difficult journey. No one said it would be easy, they only promised it would be worth it.
Love and blessings to all.
Sydney 