100 Happenings from 2021
I borrowed this idea from Austin Kleon, who annually puts together a list of his top 100 things from that year. I instead of “top moments,” I prefer to just sum up as best as I can my year in 100 tidbits.
Visiting the Hoover Dam
I love doing this because it gives equal weight to each of the happenings of my year. Whether it was a huge deal or not, it still gets one line. It’s something that happened, and somehow, it’s changed me, or possibly just helped nurture along something that was already inside of me. Enjoy.
2021: Self-proclaimed Year of Fun
Took a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway (!!)
Had my first skydive (tandem)
Got a fire massage
Started playing drums
Had a threesome (they’re overrated)
Saw the Hoover Dam
Tried a heated bidet (totally underrated)
Planned my first vacation solo (was convinced I’d die)
Recognized the feeling of being attracted to someone
Passion, Alive, Here: 2021
Lived in Boston for 2 weeks!
Watched a Maroon 5 concert in Fenway Park from my rooftop
Got WIRED from a half cup of decaf coffee (then I quit decaf, too)
Visited Martha’s Vineyard (finally!)
Started playing chess regularly
Finally visited a Black Dog Tavern Store
Visited the Grand Canyon (West Rim)
Went on a trip with just me and my mom
Tried oysters bingo (delicious)
Visited Niagara Falls with Lou (US side)
Wrote about the best and worst parts of being single
First time falling in love again after heartbreak
Bought 3 printed copies of Amanda Gorman’s poem (took 4 stores to find it)
Went on a camping trip without reception
Hosted my Chicagoian Gemini soul sister in Cleveland
Celebrated 6 years that I moved to Cleveland
Got in a car accident with Lou (we’re fine)
Drove a F-150 for 2 weeks and loved it
Wrote a love letter to myself
Hit a deer on the highway (still so sad for that fella)
Visited National Harbor in Maryland - God’s Hands
Wrote a favorite poem about my getting over my fears (A Promise to the Mountain)
Started planning to buy a truck camper
Went on a Venture Out Project hike
Took a bite from a spice leaf
Walked away from a few toxic friendships
Saw Chris Stapleton in concert (first concert since COVID)
Learned a bunch of life lessons from playing drums
Kayaked with friends down the Cuyahoga River
Got to check out a maritime research boat
Hiked Squire’s Castle with Lou
Parted ways with the anchor necklace that saved my life
Realized I love bridges
Was a busker playing drums on the Vegas Strip
Refreshed on a sponsorship family summer beach party
Visited Muscle Beach
Stayed in Monterey for some sightseeing
Had a 90-minute detour from a mudslide on the Pacific Coast Highway
Hugged a Redwood Tree at Muir Park
Rode a skateboard for the first time as an adult
Visited Big Sur (holy moly)
Baked a homemade trifle cake (on a Tuesday)
Lou had her second ACL surgery
Got the all clear for Luca from her two ACL surgeries
Saw my grandma for the first time since COVID
Got my first hand massage in NY
Was surprised for a birthday celebration in NJ
Saw big horned sheep in AZ (woah)
Saw Lake Meade
Fell in love again
Experienced a secret Lights Exhibit in Las Vegas
Luca got sprayed by two skunks in one night (poor girl)
Saw an antique chess collection at Cleveland Library
Wore a wig for a night
Visited the National Monument
Volunteered for the Ohio City Bike Coop
Rode a ferry in Boston with Luca
Took a self-defense class (my wrestling background was obvious)
Bought myself a “Girls are hot in a respectful way” sweater (brilliant)
Visited Philadelphia with Lou to see a friend–only to not see them
Went to my girl Jenna’s wedding
Went to the funeral for my friend Yoshi’s mom (never met her, but still balled my eyes out)
Made hand made pasta
Reflected about the deep value of friendship
Carved a boneless turkey roll (wow, that’s work)
Visited Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
Tried hot pot in NY (with the hot pot king himself)
My step mom got cancer
Saw Trace Bundy perform in Cleveland
Got to witness my friend Sandy’s wedding (cried when I heard they were engaged)
Saw a drive in movie from a truckbed
Read the Declaration of Independence
Practiced tying knots
Lost a push up contest to a 12-year old
Did a lot of healing from childhood trauma
Got a pedicure in DC (almost reflexively kicked the guy for tickling me)
Started cooking most nights
Luca turned 6
Pondered the difference of seeing the photos versus seeing a sight live
Tried to do basketball finger spin thingunsuccessfully
Set up a surprise 70th zoom birthday party for Daniel
Did my annual Christmas tree squat
Made homemade cinnamon rolls
(Here’s my list from 2022. And a few other 100-lists are in the works, too. )