appearing in

West Side Story

Karen Carlson grew up in a large and boisterous family of Polish descent in Chicago, IL. We’re not sure why we’re mentioning her heritage here, but somehow it seems relevant. Her travels eventually led her to Santa Cruz, CA, where she is an artist, photographer, jeweler, and hair stylist who has served her community teaching international dance traditions. Abigail and Wendy, both in need of a hair stylist after moving north from Los Angeles (the world capitol of hair stylists), fell into the capable and creative hands of Karen. The three became fast friends, and today compete for the title “Craziest Dog Lady.”

Pete Carrick works in construction and is an avid rock climber. Channeling his love of rock climbing, Pete has been deeply involved in developing the curriculum for Pacific Edge Climbing, Yoga, Fitness in the Seabrite neighborhood of Santa Cruz. After being struck by lightning on a climb in Utah, Pete told Adventure Sports Journal that “Dealing with fear has been a big part of my return to climbing. My biggest struggle has been conditioning my mind to believe that I can climb hard again.” Just weeks before Abigail’s first hair appointment with Karen, Pete and Karen were married in a backyard wedding not dissimilar to The Wedding™.

Sheila Namir is retired from a successful practice as a psychoanalyst and professor. She holds PhDs in Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalysis. As a youth and young adult, Sheila spent many years living in Israel, and still has family there. When Wendy and Abigail first met Sheila, she lived just a few doors away. They became friends overnight and Sheila’s dog Molly is Doodle of Honor Delano Eleanor’s best friend. Sheila and her spouse Malka helped Wendy and Abigail feel less anxious about wedding planning when they organized a beautiful and intricate wedding in just five weeks, and Abigail and Wendy were honored to be included among their guests.

Malka Drucker, a rabbi and writer, has written 21 books. For White Fire, an inspiring and original profile of 29 female spiritual leaders, Malka received the 2005 PEN Southwest Book Award. Malka’s early books were written for children, including books about baseball pitcher Tom Seaver and outfielder George Foster. As a writer, her “passions veered from baseball to Jewish holidays, a grave disappointment to [her] two sons.” Her black poodle mix Sadie, now among Doodle of Honor Delano Eleanor’s doodle friends, is adding a Southern California perspective and sensibility to the group.

Anne Vantalon is a textile artist based in Santa Cruz, CA. She was born in the CÔte d’Azure, and moved to Paris as an infant. Anne and spouse Luc own a country home in Planguenoual in Brittany, a region of France that has sentimental value for Abigail, who took a bicycle trip there with her dad to celebrate her graduation from Santa Cruz High School. Anne’s original and often whimsical work can be seen in craft fairs in the Bay Area, and more locally, features prominently in Abigail and Wendy’s home, including dramatic window treatments on either side of the front door, the paint color of which was chosen by Anne. 

Luc Vantalon is the founder and CTO of Digital Keystone, a company that developes video technology. He holds a MS in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Université Paris Sud (Paris XI), as well as numerous patents for innovations in video-related technology. He came to the US on an O-1 visa, a status reserved for “individuals with extraordinary abilities or achievement.” It is rare to walk in the neighborhood and not see Luc either running or zipping by on a bike. A competitive swimmer, Luc was the second fastest wetsuit-wearing male swimmers in the 2022 2.5-mile Cruz Cruise open water swim — the US Masters Swimming Middle Distance Open Water National Championship.

Amba DesJardins is a sought after real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, where she has been serving the Santa Cruz community and beyond for 18 years. Amba studied Psychology at UC Davis, where she was also an enthusiastic student in the winemaking program, learning the art of training your palate to detect wine’s subtle aromas (cherry, tobacco, asphalt, etc.) Amba calmly and indulgently guided Abigail and Wendy through two hair-raising, white-knuckle real estate episodes, for which they are permanently grateful.