Sammy And Rima

[Lior Gonzales]

Thisaward honors distinguished UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry graduate alumns in recognition of their achievements in life and generous support and service to UCLA. An in-depth article about the Timberlakes will be posted soon.

The Herbert Newby McCoy Faculty Award

Each year, this award is given to the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty member who has made the greatest contributions of the year to the science of chemistry and biochemistry. An in-depth article about the recipient and his research will be posted soon.

Hanson-Dow Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award was established in 1986 as a means to celebrate outstanding teaching within the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The award recognizes our ladder and/or non-ladder faculty members for their efforts in classrooms and laboratories, in overseeing undergraduate student research, and preparing exceptional teaching materials. An in-depth article about the recipients will be posted soon.

Professor Robert Clubb is honored as one of our most dedicated and inspirational instructors and mentors. Highlights of his teaching include his development of a new course introducing undergraduates to structural biology, combining his expertise in biochemistry and structure to give undergraduates, many for the first time, a look at the specific catalytic active sites of the enzymes that they studied in the Chem 153ABC year-long series. Clubb has also been a linchpin member of our graduate program. Students have commented about his engaging, humorous, and patient demeanor, and being able to speak to students in simple and understandable terms. They have also commented about his role in encouraging their intellectual growth and instilling confidence in them during their academic journey.

Professor Ellen Sletten lectures with brilliant clarity and fosters constructive and empathetic personal interactions with her students. She has created new classes, as well as undergraduate and graduate tracks in Chemical Biology and has built a culture of excellence and expertise for undergraduates and graduates in her research labs. Sletten creates, organizes, teaches, counsels, and administers in ways that have inspired and educated students and have generally elevated the educational excellence of the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

This year, we have established the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards to recognize and reward the extraordinary DEI efforts that are ongoing in our department and recognizes staff, faculty, and students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, innovation, and creative accomplishments within DEI initiatives. An in-depth article about the awards and the recipients will be posted soon. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Postdocs play a crucial role in our department and our faculty award committee were delighted to learn about the countless accomplishments of our postdoctoral scholars in making the award selection this year. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Since 2018, these awards have been given to UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry staff members in recognition of the wide-ranging positive impact they have on the many areas of the department. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Each year we recognize our graduate students for their accomplishments in research and teaching, two of the primary missions of our university. An article about the awards with photos of the recipients can be viewed here. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Our talented chemistry and biochemistry undergraduates received departmental awards this year in recognition of their accomplishments in academics and in research. An article about the awards with photos of the recipients can be viewed here. Congratulations to the following recipients!

These summer research fellowships make it possible for budding scientists to gain invaluable research experience and pursue their dreams. An article about the fellowships with photos of the recipients can be viewed here. Congratulations to the following recipients!

This update is supposed to be about Rebecca and if you read on I will get to her. In reality it has always been about me. There is an old adage that when writers put pen to paper (millenials-this is how we used to jot down our thoughts) they are really writing about themselves.

This past week we acknowledged that three years have passed since Rebecca's accident. The old me died that day. Rebecca has often referred to her 9-month hospitalization following her accident as her gestation period. While our old selves were different there are some vague similarities. The "I don't give a s--t" component to my personality has increased exponentially. This is an overall positive development. Nevertheless on a gut simple level we are just trying to enjoy life. That is it. The accident has made that clearer to us.

As many of you know the stars aligned and we were all able to travel to Florida by airplane this past February. When that plane took off, knowing Rebecca was on it, was exhilarating. When we arrived in Florida and I saw my in-laws pull up at the airport with our van I jumped with joy. Down in Florida we all tapped into a fountain of newfound emotional support. Palm trees and blue water also don't hurt. Rebecca went to Disney with her wonderful crew of caregivers. We all went on a wonderful sunset cruise off the coast of Miami on a boat called the Impossible Dream.

Coming back was rough. Our nursing and caregiver situation continues to be very challenging and difficult. To function at the most basic level we need competent good hearted caregivers. This is never ending. It should not have to be like this but it is.

Rebecca plans her days meticulously and then figures out how to execute her plans. She does things that she can enjoy. They may be little things to some but as I have learned little things matter and little things can be big.

I will not lie to you. Our lives can be agonizing, maddening and stressful. Sorry for complaining. Oftentimes I feel as if I am on a tightrope. So am I happy? For me I don't know how to answer that. I am not unhappy but I don't know that I was happy before her accident. I certainly was not unhappy and I am not unhappy now. I have come to learn that happiness is not all encompassing. Most people don't walk around happy 24/7. Well maybe some do, For me I have happy moments. I have sad moments. I have satisfied moments. I have pissed off moments (lots of those).

Our biggest challenge continues to be finding caregivers. Oh the stories I could tell you. We have many good nurses and aides but we need more. Although there is a nursing agency we work with they are continually unable to fill many shifts forcing us to hire privately for Rebecca. This of course is very expensive. Hence we are grateful for all the fundraising that has been done and all the contributions that have been made. Without the vast support that has come our way our lives would be nothing short of disastrous.

My heart still breaks every day and I am a very different individual from the person I was prior to March 13, 2021. I could write a book about the differences. I try not to think about how I was beforehand but I do enjoy thinking about what I was like many years earlier before I turned 30. Honestly I probably glamorize it.

In February we are planning to take Rebecca to Florida. A trip like this requires a tremendous amount of preparation and research. If all goes well Rebecca will get on a plane and fly south with us along with an entourage of nurses. It is the final frontier.

I am going to write a book. It will not be about Rebecca. I am going to title it "Journey to the Bottom of my Wife's Purse". It will be part science fiction and part fantasy. It will talk about the endless abyss, the black hole of what can be found there such as receipts from the 1990's and lost single earrings purchased at art shows. The book may not do well but I would like to license it for a movie.

Rebecca is doing well. She is looking forward to wearing some of the nice fall sweaters that she recently purchased. Lately she has been introducing caregivers and friends to the store Primark located in Roosevelt Field. She continues to paint and is working on the skill of painting Christmas Trees. This is not as easy as it sounds. Nevertheless, she persists. She is also making her protein balls which take up alot of space in our refrigerator.

Tomorrow is Yom Kippur the most serious of all the Jewish holidays as that is when it is determined whether we will be inscribed in the book of life. This past week we celebrated Rosh Hashana which is the Jewish New Year. Last night I had tuna fish and egg salad for dinner which will also be part of the menu when we break fast.

Rebecca has had an enjoyable summer. She has gone to many concerts. Most recently she saw the Lumineers at Jones Beach Theatre. Earlier this summer she saw Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift at Met Life in New Jersey. As for me I saw an Eagles tribute band and Oppenheimer.

This past week my mother-in-law came to visit. I truly love when my mother in law visits as she brings such a good vibe to our house. On the Saturday of her visit we drove into the city and went to see Aladdin on Broadway. Rebecca navigated her power chair through all of the craziness in Times Square. She said it was like being in a video game with people coming at her nonstop from all directions. That same week we also took some fun day trips to Greenport and Tobay beach.

Earlier this summer Rebecca took the Long Island Railroad for the first time since her accident into Grand Central Station. It was quite an adventure being on the train with her. We then had lunch in Bryant Park and watched the Dominican Day Parade. For lunch that day I had a Caesar Salad with too much dressing which made the lettuce kind of soggy.

Rebecca continues to paint. She has gotten quite good. We all continue to move forward. I find the best methodology is to not think too deeply or overanalyze. Just do and enjoy. As Carl Reiner said if you wake up and you are not in the obit then have breakfast!

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