- bounced around Harvard (or a certain section of it) like a pinball, temping in two different offices and coming back to the first one for a more permanent gig, which I am loving.
- taken countless walks to Darwin’s for cups of chai, delicious sandwiches, various other treats, and good talk with the folks behind the counter.
- Related to both of the above: found several places where I know in my bones that I belong.
- flown to Texas to surprise my dad for his 60th birthday.
- moved to a new apartment in the same town I’ve lived in for six years, and navigated many shifts in my daily routine.
- read nearly 200 books. I reviewed 51 of them for Shelf Awareness and six for Great New Books.
- visited Martha’s Vineyard for the first time.
- spent three blissful weekends in New York City: one in March, one in August and one in October.
- become an obsessive (is there any other kind?) Hamilfan.
- survived a wild Commencement season right in the thick of things at the Harvard Gazette.
- been humbled over and over again by friends and colleagues who have helped me through transition: with advice, packing boxes, kind words, cups of tea and so much more.
- returned to PEI for a wonderful and much-needed vacation.
- hosted my parents for their annual visit to Boston.
- returned to Abilene for my 10-year college reunion and a packed, nourishing weekend of time with my people there.
- walked across Harvard Yard to many Morning Prayers services and had my spirit refreshed.
- filled up half a dozen journals.
- turned thirty-three and grown even more comfortable in my own skin.
- spent my seventh (!) fall in New England, and snapped so many photos of leaves, as I do every year.
- survived (as have we all) the most contentious election season in recent memory.
I’m frankly not sure what to say or think as we head into 2017. A friend sent me this Grace Paley quote recently, and it seems more apt than anything I could come up with: “Let us go forth with fear and courage and rage to save the world.”
Wishing you courage and peace in this new year, friends.
Wonderful list – all the best to you in 2017 – thanks for the great posts.
Thank you, Betty. A wonderful 2017 to you too.
Love the quote! I will write it out and put it where I can see it each day. Thank you for this blog. It is always a source of comfort and inspiration.
Thank you so much, Sydney! Happy New Year.