What a hectic first few weeks of the year. Something new coming up every day, which has made 2026 very exciting, not even a month into it.

My granddaughter turned four this month and the balloon shapes my daughter got to put up on the wall for her animal-themed party read: 4 Ever Wild.

Which, if you know my granddaughter, is pretty appropriate. Oh, she can smile like an angel with the best of them when the mood strikes her but her regular ‘modus operandi’ is to always be three steps ahead of everyone else and scheming about how to get what she wants.

Luckily, the true moments of love and hugs and sweetness help balance out the schemer in her.

Recently, we were looking back at some of the earliest videos my daughter had taken of her. As a baby, Lorelei had hiccups on a regular basis and she laughed when she watched herself; she also couldn’t believe she was ever that little.

My daughter, son-in-law and I couldn’t believe she was ever that quiet.

Her birthday party featured 10 kids seven-years-old and younger; activities were non-stop in her playroom, out in the backyard, even through the living room … I honestly had never heard the house that loud.

The party was on Saturday, then on Sunday, I got to meet up with my sister and brother-in-law for lunch and to exchange Chrstimas presents – we always try to get gift-giving done before the end of January. Years ago, when they had a timeshare in Arnold, our familes would get together there, typically in early January, and have our Christmas, play in the snow (at least when there was snow) and have a nice dinner together. This year we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Lodi and got caught up; they had taken a cruise late last year so I got to hear about that and see some photos.

The lunch date capped a busy week that also included some excitement here in our area, with several days of movie filming in Riverbank. I was able to stop by the set on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 15 to take in the action. The cast and crew were set up in Riverbank’s Plaza del Rio Park downtown. We posted some info on our websites and Facebook about it as well as put out a call for ‘extras’ that they needed on Friday night, Jan. 16 for a tree lighting scene in the plaza, since it is a Christmas-themed movie.

Riverbank city officials also issued the call and on Friday evening, that plaza was packed. It will be fun to follow the film as it makes its way to our televisions for the 2026 holiday season so we can see the local spots and area residents.

Many thanks to those who turned out in hats, scarves, and their holiday sweaters for the tree lighting scene.

Then Riverbank had its grand reopening for the downtown community library on Jan. 17 – the crowd was huge and that was also a ‘feel good’ event to kick off the year on a positive note. Despite the foggy, chilly conditions, people turned out in force and it was fun to be a part of the celebration.

The year is off to such a fast start; if we keep up this pace, we’ll be getting ready for summer vacation before we know it.

Marg Jackson is editor of The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News. She may be reached at mjackson@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.