I read a great line recently, one that is apparently a joke among epidemiologists: “If you’ve seen one pandemic...you’ve seen one pandemic.” While this is intended to show the unique socio-political and scientific variables of a virus-in-time such as COVID-19, I'm stuck on this: how is it possible that we are still in the same one pandemic as last year?
There are no two ways about it: the first months of this year were rough. The ongoing uncertainty of personal health and safety, the incessant waiting and longing for a vaccine that was coming so quickly and yet felt like eons away, the painful should we or shouldn't we of every single social engagement. And while the months ticked by and 2021 managed to provide some (relative) highs, moments of relief and reunion and laughter and growth, I believe it's more accurately represented as one long, commiserative low; let's be honest, it was a slog.
I've captured here the moments that made up my year. In between these more noteworthy memories were the ongoing relationships that glued it all together: real talk among friends about how things were going (or not going) over countless calls, getting to spend more time with my parents than any other time in my adult life, communing with nature, a supportive team, group of colleagues and coach with whom I could share everything from banal rants to existential dread.
Just as the year was hitting a fever pitch with Omicron numbers exploding and anxieties over returning to pre-pandemic holiday celebrations, I escaped to Mexico with Brittany for my birthday and New Year's. Thank God for that reset. As I found stillness and looked inward, I took a moment to set an intention for the new year. The word that floated to the top was FLOURISH, from the Latin "to bloom."
My wish is for 2022 to be like the spring after a long winter, a time of rebirth and blossoming. I hope in this year I will find new growth, embellish my life with new experiences, places, and friends, and thrive, rather than simply survive. More to come on all that. For now, I give you the year that was.
In 2021, I...
Struggled emotionally in January to adapt to living in Vacaville far from friends, dealing with persisting uncertainty around the pandemic, and the shock of the January 6 capital insurrection
Breathed a sign of relief as the new administration was inaugurated, and swelled with pride and emotion as the first woman ascended to the vice presidency
Became the Co-lead of Women at Zendesk, hosting events and conversations throughout the year - this was a great opportunity to take on a leadership role and build community while working remotely
Hosted a virtual baby shower celebrating Kristen and little-human-to-be Elliott
Celebrated two years at Zendesk
With travel volumes still lagging, I got to expand into other projects at work, too, including Contingent Workforce and Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Presented travel policy changes to hundreds of people managers at the company
Played countless games of Shanghai Rummy with my parents, winning my fair share
Had a blast roadtripping with Maryana to Santa Barbara
Unwound poolside with my first massage since COVID in Ojai
Met new babies! Not being able to hold a baby was one of the cruelest pieces of quarantine.
Elliott, 3 months
Rowan, 2 months
Cousin Aubree, 2 months
Completed several puzzles, which I love to do while listening to audiobooks
Opened myself to a romantic relationship for the first time in a long time, and grew exponentially through both starting and closing this chapter
Flew Polaris first class to New York in a fully reclining seat
Floated in the Atlantic at Brighton Beach with Shawn
Attended my first concert since COVID at Summer Stage in Central Park
Spent a relaxing week in Detroit and received the insider's tour with Amanda and Andrew
Up-leveled my furry friend relationships (here's just a couple!)
Had a real "hometown" moment when my 3rd grade best friend, Mallory, bought the house next door, and we started going on walks together
Volunteered again at the annual golf tournament fundraiser in memory of Mr. Henry
Celebrated dad's birthday with the whole family reunited since COVID
Stayed consistent with my virtual yoga at least weekly
Almost solved the rubik's cube (WIP!)
Spent time with my grandmother, visiting from the Azores, after several years apart
Captained my team through a wellness challenge at work in the fall which motivated me to go on more walks, eat more colorful foods, volunteer at the food bank, and take meditation breaks from work. We even won the month focused on mindfulness!
Karl Marx
Tobey Keith
Saw a white snowy owl fly across my backyard in broad daylight
While meeting with a coach through work (more of a therapist, honestly), I realized that oftentimes when I'm feeling trapped or limited, it's because I'm in a box of my own building *mind blown*
Built my confidence and executive presence at work, receiving positive feedback
Did my first "Tech Shabbat" - 24 hours sundown to sundown with no technology, turning off my phone, computer, and TV and settling instead into reading, cooking, and inevitably organizing something
Handpicked my own pumpkin off the vine for the first time
Installed a fire pit in the backyard and have enjoyed s'mores nights and NYT mornings
Marveled in small miracles (this is the stunning underside of my alocasia plant - reminds me of an entire city map...within one leaf)
Completed the World's Longest Corn Maze (Dixon, CA)
Went full-force on my Halloween costume for the benefit of seven trick-or-treaters
Made a ceramic planter by hand with past roommates Katie and Maddy
Was so happy to get the family back together for Thanksgiving (here's all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, minus Mathew and Melissa)
Reveled in seeing Daniel make it rain over Avó after she won the money game
Cross-stitched several ornaments
Celebrated my birthday with Brittany in Puerto Vallarta, enjoying my first in-person yoga classes since the pandemic, three massages, a room with a view (and no wall to mask it), delicious food, a million stairs, a sense that the pandemic was far far away, books and swims and strolls at the beach, and lots of quality time with my BFF
Travel
Was able to save an incredible amount of money living with my parents, even hitting several savings goals, including a 20% down payment on a house (TBD on when I'll actually put it down)
Beat the cousins at ladder golf
Plus significant others!
Went on many hikes/lunches over the course of the year, discovering natural treasures around the bay with both Brittany and Cathleen
Went to my first big event since COVID, Trevor Noah!
And then promptly to my second, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert
Celebrated a full-blown Christmas back with the family, with every single person in attendance this year
Birthday views...
...& NYE vibes
- Guerneville, CA
- Ojai and Santa Barbara, CA
- Chapel Hill and Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Stinson Beach, CA
- New York, NY
- Detroit, Michigan
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Live Shows
- Summer Stage @ Central Park
- Trevor Noah @ Chase Center
- San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert @ Sydney Goldstein Theater
Spotify Wrapped
Oh, God, my music taste can be so basic. While I listen to so much more than dance pop, this is the stickiest stuff, which means it's on repeat. Plus, it brings me uncomplicated joy.
Books
It feels unfortunate to admit that while I read quite a bit this year, there wasn't too much that knocked my socks off, while my top ten books from last year I still think about constantly. While I attempted this year to read a more diverse scope of authors, topics, and perspectives, I intend to do more to broaden what I read and get outside my comfort zone on style as well. Flip side of that, I'm also welcoming more frivolity into my reading (the news is serious enough), and as such I've drawn a distinction between more serious and "frivolous" fiction recommendations here. My favorite of the 70 books I read this year, the one that's stayed with me the most, is Angle of Repose. What a stunning, sprawling novel.
Top Fiction
- Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner (1972 Pulitzer Prize winner spanning four generations and the development of the west)
- Eventide and Plainsong by Kent Haruf (Heart-swelling novels with themes of community and love growing in unexpected places)
- Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (Follows the lives of twelve different characters, mostly women, Black, and British)
- Apeirogon by Colum McCann (Empathetic and personal look at the Israeli and Palestinian situation based on a real pair of friends on either side of it; surprising structure)
Top Frivolous Fiction
- Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Top Non-fiction
- Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
- A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020 by David Sedaris
- Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
- Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
Recipes on repeat
- Braised White Beans and Greens With Parmesan - a side dish that becomes the main dish
- Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms - I use the structure, rather than ingredients, of this recipe. I sauté impossible burger with whatever veggies I have in the fridge. Don't forget the panko/parm/butter topping!
- Sheet Pan Baked Feta with Veggies - Ingredients flexible on this one as well! Asparagus swaps beautifully for the broccolini.
Obsessions
- Glennon Doyle's Hard Things podcast - how I've loved having a common language with my pod squad to talk about many of the biggest challenges women are facing today. My favorite person on the podcast? Glennon's whip-smart, sarcastic sister, Amanda.
- Making vegetable and bone broth from scratch - I take carrot shavings, kale ribs, and other veggie discards from my daily cooking and save them in an ever-growing bag in the freezer. Whenever it gets full, I throw it in a soup sock with halved garlic heads, bay leaves, and maybe a parm rind or chicken bones if I have them. A few hours later, voila, I have homemade broth.
- The Calm App - I had more trouble falling asleep this year than I have ever before (shocker!). Calm's sleep meditations, soundscapes, and especially stories have been so helpful to me. My two favorites on repeat involved a sleepy sloth in Costa Rica and a train ride to Lisbon.
