When you’ve worked together in the trenches for so long, you look back and realize that your co-workers have become more like family. A semi-dysfunctional, loving family! And it is with that spirit of fondness that I look back at the more personal memories I’ve shared with my Y&R co-workers over the past seven years.

These first few photos were taken at Chrissie’s good-bye party in 2007. A lot of these faces are no longer at Y&R, but I remember this day like it was only months ago.

Here’s me and director Mike Denney at his retirement party many years ago. Luckily he came back to work for us!

This was a baby shower for Amelia Heinle (Victoria). It was special to gather with the Y&R ladies and celebrate her impending bundle of joy.

Here’s Christian Le Blanc (Michael) cradling our director Sally’s new son.

And oh, the weddings! It has been such a joy to watch my co-workers meet their future spouses, fall in love, and get married over the years. To watch that unfold is really meaningful.

This next wedding was extra special because two of our co-workers got married to each other! Erin, our former receptionist, married Dino, our audio post supervisor.

Here are a few shots of my co-workers at the wedding reception.

It’s fun to cut loose outside of work once in awhile. One night in 2009 the LA Dodgers welcomed our show and the cast & crew was invited to attend the game. One of our actors sang the national anthem (Adrienne Frantz) and another sang “God Bless America” (Jamia Simone Nash) during the seventh inning stretch.

Moving along with the sporting events theme, here’s a shot Molly, Lynsey, and me running a 5k on the Paramount backlot in 2008.

And here’s Michael, Laura, Allison, me, and Bryan attending a cast panel on GLEE at the Television Academy in 2010.

This photo was taken at our Christmas party at The Hudson in 2009.

Erin & Dino held a memorable Christmas gathering with fake snow and an ugly sweater contest back in 2009.

These photos are from the Y&R holiday party in 2011 at Vodvil. Guess who’s wearing that Santa suit?

It’s Stephen Nichols (Tucker). He walked around passing out candy canes.

Here’s Laura, Yaz, and Naz:

Then right after Christmas in 2011 I met up with Ed, our script and story coordinator, to see some shows in New York. We occasionally get to see theater together (either in NY or LA) and it’s always a lot of fun.

And over the years my real family has come to visit the Y&R set several times. Here’s my mom and dad posing in the prison set:

That’s my dad with the Price is Right wheel in the photo above (Price is Right shoots across the hall from us).

And here’s my cousin Elena! She was an extra on Y&R back in 2007. She just gave birth to her first child last week, actually. I love that we share memories of her time visiting Y&R.

This photo has personal significance to me. Greg Rikaart (Kevin) did a fan appearance in Ft. Myers, FL where my grandparents live. My grandpa Henry read about it in the newspaper and insisted that he and my grandmother trek down to the local mall to meet “one of Erica’s co-workers.” This was back in 2006 and I hadn’t been at the show very long, so I was mortified (but also delighted) to get a voicemail of my grandfather walking up to Greg and telling him who I was. And since my grandparents didn’t watch the show at the time (although they began tuning in daily immediately after this to catch their new friend Greg), they asked Greg to sign the autograph to ME, and then they mailed it to me. Even though I saw Greg at work two days later. How funny is that! I will always treasure this story, and I told it at my grandpa Henry’s funeral in 2008. He was a very special man and he was so proud of me for working at Y&R. He and my grandma would look for my name in the credits (it appears once or twice a week) and tell me, “We saw your name on Thursday this week!” or whichever day it happened to be.

And after meeting Greg my grandmother really got into watch the show daily. It meant a lot to me to chat with her about upcoming story lines and tell her about things that happened behind the scenes. For her 90th birthday in 2008, I got her this autographed frame of the Y&R cast with personal messages from our actors. It still hangs in her apartment in CT. And this year she’ll turn a remarkable 95 years old!

Here is my co-worker Erin. When she worked at the show, we had a special tradition of making cakes for each other’s birthdays. Truth be told, she made a LOT of cakes for everyone’s birthdays! This year was really special because she learned to make this Snickers cake at a cake baking class and then surprised me with it for my birthday. This is especially appropriate to share because tomorrow I turn 29.

While we’re on the topic of treats, here is an impressive dessert spread that our Billy & Victoria fans set in to support their favorite couple. Over the years the fans have sent in some huge and delicious cakes — for Mel’s birthday, Amelia’s birthday, Joshua’s birthday… the Newman family has some very generous fans.

This is what my desk looks like around lunch time on any given day. I just want to remember that.

It’s been a treat to work so close to the Grove, a large outdoor shopping mall. I pop over there once or twice a day for coffee and sometimes lunch. My favorite time to be there is around 8am when the stalls in the farmer’s market are just beginning to open.

Here’s my FAVORITE coffee place at the farmer’s market — Short Order. It’s pricey but so worth it. Ask for the Spice Latte; it’s seasonal but they’ll make it even when it’s not on the menu and it’s my favorite. Their iced vanilla bean lattes are pretty stellar too. I will miss this place!

Here’s our balcony at work. It’s right off the sound stages and the crew goes out there on five’s (our five minute breaks once an hour). I love sitting out here. Sometimes I’ll bring down scripts and a stop watch to time shows way down the other end of the balcony.

And my walk down memory lane is nearly complete! Check back tomorrow for one final Y&R recap — and it’s a big one.