Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I take you back to my first Christmas away from home—a holiday that could have been lonely but turned into one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

In 1981, I was stationed at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, navigating the challenges of military life. My roommate, Cindy, had just left after a traumatic event, and I found myself facing Christmas without the familiar warmth of family gatherings at my grandparents’ farm. But then came Forsteene—a nurse with a laid-back California spirit and a heart full of kindness.

She refused to let me spend the holiday alone. Instead, she whisked me away to a grand hotel downtown, where we dined beside a pianist playing Christmas music, surrounded by dazzling pink and turquoise flocked trees. But the real magic happened later that night, when we tiptoed through the hospital, hanging stockings filled with candy and tube socks at the foot of each patient’s bed—an act of kindness that transformed the holiday for all of us.

This episode is about gratitude, unexpected generosity, and the small gestures that make a lasting impact. Join me as I reflect on that Christmas in San Diego and the lessons it taught me about appreciation, resilience, and the power of human connection.