12-31-21
2021
Here we are. It's the last day of 2021, I just watched Spider-Man No Way Home with A.T., we're still in a pandemic, and I've lived through another year filled with good memories. Even though we are still in a pandemic, it was another great year for me (it's slightly gut wrenching to say that), and this summer was one of the best summers of my life.
Regarding the pandemic, the biggest challenge has been how to coordinate behavior among everyone in a nation who has different beliefs, different medical histories, different fears, and different cares. The vaccines have helped a lot. It's hard to remember that at the beginning of this year we started rolling out the first vaccines for people who weren't in healthcare. I received mine in April and May, and then got my booster the day after Thanksgiving. Now that vaccines and boosters have been available and taken, I feel that myself and the nation have been more lax on following the recommended measures. I feel the only way we get the pandemic over is if we collectively all get vaccinated or collectively strictly follow the guidelines. When will the pandemic end? Hopefully when I write this reflection next year, I'll be able to say the pandemic has ended.
The year was full of traveling, friends, and steps forward though. I learned more about the Catholic faith. I lived in three apartments. I gave more generously financially. I learned more about what makes me happy. Here are some highlights from 2021:
January - The New Year brought hope. Read Barack Obama's memoir, Ate some salads, Capitol was stormed, watched playoff nfl football, Biden got inaugurated, the poem written and given by Amanda Gorman during the inauguration and the fireworks at night were inspiring, played cod with Bros and Casey, went over to Burwood, laundry joke, Watched Challenger, Waco, AOC biopic, Romney biopic, Icarus, The Dawn Wall documentaries
February - Super Bowl party at G's, Bucs won the Super Bowl, intramural volleyball at the windy city fieldhouse, Coach Wood retired and went to celebrate his last home game, Phase 2 went live, drinks at GSP with W
March - went to San Diego and explored!, visited Keeg and Marissa in Orange County, started dating a girl, started Phase 4, St. Patrick's Day party outside, Chicago date, got Dad a digital photo frame for his birthday, long bike ride along north branch of river and then Las Fuentes dinner with Dad and his friends
April - started to be able to attend Mass in person again while wearing masks, had a call with Tommy to catch up and he announced that Rachel was pregnant!, intramural softball, Easter and date, Jalen Suggs drained half court shot for march madness semi-final win, vaccine 1, desk broke, tossed frisbee by the Windmill statue with L, J, and C
May - moved into G's apartment, enjoyed having a roommate, got a Uhaul storage unit, Shades date, stopped dating a girl, started going to Communio consistently and Colectivo afterwards, vaccine 2, watched Bobby Flay and Alpha videos, watched golf majors, camping with L and friends in Kettle Moraine, volleyball at North Ave beach with friends on Memorial Day
June - got a base pay raise and bright blue sky sunny day, watched a Quiet Place 2 in theaters (first movie I had watched back in theaters in awhile), intramural softball, dinner at Renallis with M and J, helped T and A move then Las Fuentes dinner afterwards, fishing trip with Dad and crew in Minnesota!, pool at L's apartment, Mickelson won PGA major
July - Tommy visited me in Chicago!, crow's nest in Merrillville, closing campfire at Camp T, birthday dinner at Orso's, call with R, Cubs game with G, Zion National Park and Glacier National Park road trip!, dinner at M and J's, intramural beach volleyball, Wells street afterwards, Bucks won NBA championship
August - moved into an apartment with four other roommates, bike got stolen, housewarming, Keeg's bachelor party, went to Rome and visited Tommy in Italy!, watched Air and Water show from top of L apartment, trivia at barbecue place, C birthday Maroon 5 concert at Wrigley
September - gave my first Communio reflection, started going to Dom's afterwards for coffee, Michiana lakehouse for labor day, YAC Cubs game, L birthday celebration, took Mom and Dad to printer's row lit fest, C's mom visited, went to South Bend and stayed in Airbnb and saw my first ND football game, euchre night at J's
October - bought running shoes and started running along the lakefront trail, watched GL and B run in the Chicago Marathon, Sapori Tratorria dinner afterwards with GL, started Phase 6, joined the YAC Board, Keegan and Marissa got married!, Keeg's speech, wedding in Orange County, basketball on top of Old Post Office with M, tennis with C on Sundays, Richardson farm and corn maze, Braves won World Series, halloween party and pringles costume
November - started going to the gym more often, 80 proof, played Catan for the first time, got a base pay raise and a really nice bonus, made a new personal email address, A.T. visited and took him to Barcocina and Kirkwood, watched Spider-Man Homecoming with A.T., A.T. and I picked Keeg and Marissa up from downtown and drove down for Thanksgiving, had Thanksgiving at our place in WL with Keeg, Marissa, A.T., Mom, Dad, Uncle Rick, Connor, Cameron, Aunt Beth, Grandma, Grandpa in nursing home, visited Grandpa with Connor, Bucket Game tailgate and watched game, Michigan beat Ohio State, Cincinnati in CFP, got Christmas tree and decorations with C at Home Depot
December - YAC retreat at Mundelein, gave my second Communio reflection, crazy ncaa football coaching carousel, went Salsa dancing in West Loop, dinners with Franciscan (lasagna) and a Priest (duck), roommates steak dinner and gift exchange, wrote and sent out Christmas cards, made tuna melts for LCPS and Father Paul's Feliz Navidad, finished the Digital Products Lemonade Stand activities, watched Colts beat Patriots and Cardinals, cooked fresh Mexican food dinner with A.T. (tacos and corn salad) for Mom and Dad, long walk with Dad and A.T. to Peoples, enjoyed Christmas Time with Mom, Dad, A.T. and Wiley, facetimed Keeg, had Grandma over for Christmas dinner, played Fortnite with A.T. and Keeg, rearranged bed in my room, call with R, visited Grandpa, Brats and Smores firepit, researched about recycling, lunch with T at cafe literato, dinner at La Hacienda with A.T. and watched Purdue beat Tennessee in overtime for the bowl game win, watched Spider-Man No Way Home at Wabash 9 with A.T.
This year was jam packed. It was fun and I feel ready for 2022. God bless you all!
- Brody
