A year like no other.

So far out there.

Wonder if we’ll ever get back to normal.

It has been an amazing year, for sure. 

• Emily, Mitchell, Erich, Zen, Laya, Jennifer, Jay, Liz, Erica, and Ira are all progressing in school. We met when they were undergrads, and they’ve stayed in touch.
• Weston got his job.
• Dexter.
• Christopher and Keaton have stayed in touch, despite the distance and time between us.
• Liz and Deb both got elected to office, one in Milwaukee County and the other in the State Legislature.
• Kamala got elected to the highest office a woman has ever served in the US.
• Two of my dear great nephews — Tim and Pete — have remained in close touch with me, moving from distant biological family to family of choice for us all.
• The 2Gs keep an eye on my most days of the week, and they are not shy about sharing their disappointment that a virus keeps our holiday celebrations at bay.
• Megan, Andrew, Liam, and Jensen shared snippets of their lives with me this year.
• Anne Davis has charmed the community-minded owner and staff of The Bay into doing jazz on the patio.
• Catie and Will were great sports about Casey and Rory getting up super early on Sundays.
• The Bad Plus has figured out how to stream some jazz performances.
• Paula’s take on the Democratic Convention and life.
• Gregg and Julie before and after and during everything, leaving no room for doubt.
• A great surgeon and an excellent physical therapist.
• Shakita, David, Sumaiyah, Matt, Jim, Mike, Mark, and Steve coming together to do huge things in giant ways that impress me.
• Jan walking and talking and walking and talking and walking and talking in all weather.
• David, Julio, Ray, and Ted reminding me.
• Linda’s steadiness.
• YWCA Southeast Wisconsin successfully adopted a new program model that will roll out more fully in 2021.
• After School Matters in Chicago turned on a dime to put thousands of tablets and broadband access into the hands of teens so that their out-of-school time could produce inspiring works of science, technology, engineering, art, math, and recreation.
• Marcie Rendon gave a stirring commencement address at the December commencement for Adler University. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on December 6, 2020.
• David Crowley was elected to serve as County Executive of Milwaukee in April; he was sworn in May 4, 2020. Leading the largest county in Wisconsin is a vast departure from his early start in Milwaukee where his family faced frequent evictions.
• A group of remarkable men — Kurt, Jason, Patrick, Josh, and Jay — have watched out for me and my health.
• William knows his Saba. He likes his trucks, too.
• Levin.
• A family on 60^th street.
• Ronnie, again and again and again that steady guy.
• A pre-surgical back shave by Tim.
• Josh sitting on the toilet while I showered to be sure I was safe.
• Martha, Jason, Sheila, Joshua, Harriet, Marian, and Jna start my days every day.
• Todd listens to my longing.
• Ilya allows himself to love.
• Leslie and the twins in a hard year.
• The Beerline Trail.
• Milwaukee County Parks.
• The Queen’s Gambit.
• Working on the most annoying real estate challenge ever.
• Frank and cooking and philanthropy and health and relationships and work and friendships and games and movies.
• Ballet in Milwaukee, Walnut Creek, and Seattle.
• Gwen, Dvora, Mary, Sooja, Valerie, Sandra, Marian, Rachel, Yuko, Diane, Tim, and more whose love is boundless, practical, and real.