Maile Hunt
I joined social media for the first time last June. As a mother, I had always tried to avoid it, staying away from that tempting shiny red apple. As a business owner, I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d have to take a bite! I still remember the sound of my very first Instagram message notification [ding]. It was from my dear old friend, Erin Rosenblum-my heart skipped a beat with excitement. It had been more than a decade since we last spoke. Erin and I met in 8th grade at a volleyball club team tryout in the Bay Area called South Valley Volleyball. Looking back at that day, I remember how nervous I was. Being in a gym full of so many girls I had never met, and yet suddenly expected to play alongside them was intimidating. It’s amazing how stepping outside your comfort zone can open doors you never expect. That day, I not only made the team, but formed lifelong friendships, many of which I am honored to still have in my life today.
The best part about an ice-cream sundae is the toppings-and Erin came with that. Her mother, sister, and father became a meaningful part of my world. Erin’s sister was also on our volleyball team, and her father was our coach. I feel so grateful to have learned under him. As the famed head volleyball coach at San Jose State, he gave us some of the strongest foundational training an athlete could have hoped for. He taught me the importance of challenging yourself and not holding back – life lessons I still fall back on today.
Erin and I played side by side for six years. Sharing the same specialty position as setters, we developed a deep bond. During long stretches of downtime at tournaments, we loved braiding each other’s hair—each strand weaving together like the pieces of our friendship, built on communication, mutual respect, and collaboration.
Since our days of playing together Erin has carried that same heart, grit, and dedication to everything she has done. With a passion for the mental health and wellbeing of children, Erin became a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in the Bay Area. To date, she has written several articles that have been featured in M Magazine. Most recently she published a children’s series through a fun collaboration with her daughter called Peanut Butter and Donnor. She was the author while her daughter, Aubree, was the creative illustrator. This rhyming series is designed to tackle “big feelings in little bodies”. It is a fun and engaging read that creatively brings learning to life for both children and adults. Each book explores a specific emotion through the journey of two unlikely friends, a parakeet and a bunny. The series touches upon a kaleidoscope of emotions from empathy, grief, shyness, bravery, trust, and more. A third book is expected in Fall 2026.
March is National Reading Month-a time to celebrate stories, literacy, and the connections they create. For me, this month is also a reminder of how a simple moment, like opening a book or responding to a message, can rekindle lifelong friendships. Reconnecting with Erin after so many years has been a beautiful reflection of the same themes found in her Peanut Butter and Donnor series: trust and the courage to show up for one another. In a world with constant noise and digital distractions, it’s more important than ever to slow down, pause, and create meaningful moments to connect and stay connected. So, brew a cup of loose-leaf organic tea from Mill District Tea’s collection, pull up a good read, and see where the magic of storytelling takes you.
