This Thankful Time – Aaron Yang

As we dive into this season of gratitude, I must admit that I have so much to be thankful for this year. Without certain things occurring in my life, 2023 wouldn’t have been such an adventurous year will miracles, excitement, and blessings. It’s difficult to imagine that we are in the holiday season, and that only one month remains before another year begins! Y’all know that November is considered my 4th month of isolation from Santa Clarita??? I haven’t been back home since July maybe???

First and foremost, I must extend my full on gratitude to the city of Santa Clarita and the SCV for being my miracle worker and allowing me to realize that I am able to be capable of anything despite having cerebral palsy. Meeting Jason Gibbs, the city mayor, and Michael Picarella gave me new insight in the world. I am so glad I got to make tons of new friends in the area. I still believe that it is super fun to tell Mayor Gibbs that I first fell in love with his city when I was a little naughty, and I secretly called up a few churches in the area inquiring about Vacation Bible School. I was so upset when my mom refused to take me a whole week to attend one. But, I won her over when I was in high school and I managed to talk my mom into taking me once or twice a month for teen programming at the Valencia Library.

Next, I would like to say a huge thank you to my mom Amy and especially my uncle, Kenny. He saw potential and talent in me and fully supported my desire in pursuing an acting career. Accompanying me that day to the Old Town Newhall Library to participate in the special presentation, where the SCV Signal did a filming and library staff had the opportunity to enjoy my unique devotion and passion to libraries. I would like to thank my aunt Grace as well for sacrificing so much for me and being able to let me embrace my love for Santa Clarita.

Next up, a huge shower of gratitude goes out to Michael Picarella, who used to work at SCV Signal. When he reached out to me expressing interest in featuring me in one of their articles, I couldn’t believe it! I love publicity opportunities and I still had a lot of excitement from the NPR thing that Chicago journalist Anne Ford did of me in 2021. I was super excited by the opportunity to be featured that I even invited my acting coach, Kristin Pitts-Altman at Limelight Acting Studio to get interviewed as well. She was so excited too and couldn’t thank me enough for it. Kristin played a huge influence in defining a new career path in my life. I was almost about to give up on my desire in an acting career pursuit because my first 2 acting coaches weren’t suitable for me. Limelight saved my life! That’s why I believe that the SCV is my destiny and where my future will sprout from there. Michael’s stunning headline: Alhambra Actor has big SCV Dreams, is so true! He isn’t wrong in the least bit slightest! I am indeed an actor living in Alhambra, who has big dreams not only for myself in the SCV, but also for the residents of this incredible community that opened my eyes to a new world, gave me confidence, and power, and whom I call my magical miracle. Love ya Santa Clarita!!!

Thank you to Cira Parra and Thomas Parker Jr. of Eternal Valley Memorial Park&Mortuary for assisting me in making my grave plot purchase. I am very proud of myself for making this purchase because it is a huge accomplishment in my life. These 2 people were amazing! They really saw how dedicated and serious I was in regards to my future and throughout my life. I am so honored to see them again soon, hopefully one day next year!

My heart extends out to Josh Wentz, who’s one of the people working at Santa Clarita United Methodist Church. While I didn’t get the opportunity to meet him in person when I went to visit the church a few months back, I had the pleasure of meeting Mario Abadia, their church office receptionist. I really hope that I get to meet Josh one day soon. We keep in touch by email all the time and we’re friends on Facebook. One of Josh’s recent emails really made me feel like as if I have truly found my place in the world and how Santa Clarita really means something to me in my life. I had emailed a few people 2 story files about a newly envisioned Santa Clarita world and how I lived in the area my entire life, and how my family is like the legacy in the SCV. Josh was super impressed by my creativity and imagination. In fact, his exact words in his email read:

“So excited to see your story unfold.

You are a very good writer. I’m impressed with what I read just now. Let your imagination run wild!! People with limited hopes, dreams, and imaginations are very boring. That is definitely not you! I am inspired by your creativity.”

I was extremely touched by his comments. I sincerely hope we get to meet each other soon one day. He even invited me to sing in the church choir too:)

Thank you to Laura Miller and Pastor Alan of Grace Baptist Church SCV. These pastors really gave me a new perspective to view church. It was so much fun to see Laura’s facial expression when she met me in the church lobby and couldn’t believe how I actually Ubered there! I was also visiting some other destinations in the area, so I was like… why not stop by and give them a surprise? Laura was such a sweet woman, especially when she bought me a snack at the coffee shop at the church and paid for my ride home. I still can’t help myself, but feel guilty for having her pay for my ride home. She probably have never been to the Alhambra area often because she told me that her daughter contacted her asking why her mom was taking an Uber to Alhambra???!!! That was hilarious:)

I want to give a warm sense of gratitude to Isaiah and Cristina Campbell, who are the leaders of the college/YA group at CenterPoint Church Murrieta. While Murrieta/Temecula Valley might be approximately 90 minutes south of where I live, this church’s worship environment allowed me to experience Christianity from a new perspective and gave me new insight on embracing the topic of religion in the modern world. Isaiah especially, man! I follow their Instagram and I text him often. I hope we get to meet one day soon because he is just super fun, extremely hilarious, and pretty silly. His attitude and personality won me over, won my heart.

Let’s give a little recognition to Sammy Clarita! He’s a horse, the city mascot, and I got to meet him at the library during my mayor meeting. While y’all might believe that I am way too old to have an imaginary friend or companion, Sammy is a completely different angle. While some might see it as my imaginary friend, I view him as my companion, someone who is able to have a piece of Santa Clarita by my side. I am so grateful that in my city swag bag, I received 3 Sammy Clarita stuffed animals and 3 Sammy story books. Of course, I can’t be in Santa Clarita daily or 24 hours a day! So, to compensate and reassure myself, I pretend to have conversations with Sammy. I would pretend that he answers me back and tell me the cool things that occurred in the area that day. Having Sammy close to my side when I feel a sudden wave of sadness wash over me because I suddenly miss Santa Clarita, helps me embrace my frustration and comforts me. Thank you Sammy! Love ya:)

Let’s not forget to thank all my librarian friends across America for being my biggest fans and letting my life swing by fast! Having these amazing people in my life really allows me to express my love, dedication, and devotion to libraries.

Last but not least, I want to thank my best friend from high school, Marco Tam! We keep in touch by text all the time. It’s amazing that I haven’t seen him in like 5-6 years already! Marco is literally my only friend from my childhood left. 80% of my friends are virtual, living in other parts of America, whom I have never met in person at all. 20% of my friends are technically virtual since they live like 1-2 hours away from me. I lost so many friendships due to my acting career investment. Many people refused to have a friendship with someone who wanted to pursue acting and craved for a publicity life because they didn’t enjoy all this attention and didn’t want to be involved or get looped in, so they thought the best solution would just to let me go as their friend. Not Marco though! He was there by my side, from my acting career investment, to going through all the logistics of my life, to my NPR appearance, to falling in love with the SCV, and just being there for me when we need one another. Thanks so much for your friendship buddy! Keep being you!

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