The Christmas Letter

 As I've opened my mailbox this holiday season,  it has been filled with many letters and updates about people's lives and happenings-- weddings, babies, new houses, new pets, etc. It's so spectacular to read these wonderful things! I genuinely care and am interested. And after reading the "what's new with you these days? we need to catch up" written in, I thought maybe this is the year I send a letter with my christmas card. There's quite a bit to share. Sadly, I am quite certain I am not going to get any cards out until after Christmas. I'll make them New Year greetings cards! :) I am okay with that. I really hope no one will be offended. Life is busy and social and booked, so I have less time to spend writing out those cards. I am a firm believer in sending a personal note on them so it takes a bit of time. They'll find a mailbox soon and will be a bright spot. I personally always love an unexpected piece of fun mail. (Silver lining or really great excuse? ;) )

Because my cards won't likely make it out in time, I thought I'd write my Christmas letter here and share with everyone.

2014….what a year! I survived my first winter in Chicago during one of the worst winters in recorded history- record-breaking snowfall, wind chills and all. The term Chi-beria was coined during the time. At the very start of the year, I got stranded in Michigan for 5 days following Gus' baptism because the freeway was closed. Yep, you read that right-- the freeway. A major thoroughfare between Michigan and Chicago was closed for days at a time. Welcome back to the midwest, indeed! But the key was that I survived it and can now truly say I am a Chicagoan. ;) Aside from the weather, the winter was fun-filled with new people, old favorites, and a couple warm-weather adventures to see my west coast pals. I am the luckiest to be able to have places to go and people who really want to see me when it the depths of frigid here and lovely and sunny where they are. Lucky.
The spring got a little dicey. While life was never bad, it definitely was not the happiest. Work was terrible. Like terrible, terrible. Terrible in a way that made me regret taking the job in the first place. Ugh. And just as I was starting to think I needed to really find something new, a more major life event occurred. My Papa had an unexpected open heart surgery on the weekend he and my mom were scheduled to move to their new home and begin their lives together as a retired couple. That week was a blur. I got home and heard the news, then the dude, dudette and I made decisions. We took charge for a bit of time. I realize we have been grown-ups for some time, but in those weeks, we really become adults. We appreciated the situation and realized it could have been so much worse. As a family, we held each other closer and were reminded that while we may drive each other crazy sometimes, we really do like one another. Spring went by in a blur of time between Chicago and Michigan.
By June, I was looking for a new full time gig and enjoying the start to what turned out to be the best summer of my adult life so far. I was able to hang with my dad when he needed a little extra time. I spent tons of time with some of my little (& big) people in Howell and Grand Ledge. I got to spend a lot of time at the beach Up North and be with my parents as they settled down into their new home.  And I got to discover and spend time at the beach here in Chicago! I got to work on a bunch of super fun events, work with really great people, and learn some new skills- copy editor to name one! I walked 10K plus steps every day. I started a new passion of pure barre, and continued to look and interview for the next big adventure in my career.
At the start of fall, I had a job offer on the table and had started to work on a gig that took me to state 49 of 50 (Maine), and work with some of my very favorite people! Ultimately, I accepted the job and am now working at Glenwood Academy. With the new gigs on weekends and the new job with a commute, the fall has been crazy. Three months later, I feel like I have finally found a bit of a groove and understand how to schedule my days with a commute and a job that takes me to an office everyday. The commute can especially brutal in Chicago traffic, but I'm figuring it out. I found a team to call my home for some time again.
As I look back on this year-- my first full year in Chicago, I am super happy! I have had lots of fun with people new and old. I have made some really wonderful new friends. The kind of friends who are keepers and will be around for years to come. I have enjoyed seeing friends that come in and out of this fair city and we've enjoyed catching up after some lost time. I have been spoiled with the time I have been able to spend with my family- both immediate and extended. I have gotten to know Chicago and am totally smitten! I met a guy. Like, THE guy. The guy that will be featured in every letter and Christmas card from here on out. I'd say, it's been a good year.
Looking ahead to 2015, I am excited for the possibilities that lie ahead. The adventures that will be. The joy that I can't fathom yet. I am aware that none of it will perfect, just like this last year (and the years before it). But I know it will be a good year!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukkuh! Cheers to the New Year!
Wishing you and yours a season of love, laughter, and peace.
Love,
Jessica


2014: Recap in pictures.

On death and dying… (thanks, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross)

A few weeks ago a friend of mine passed away. It was unexpected and very sudden. And while I was sad to hear the news, I think I was more sad for those that loved her (especially her wife) than for myself. My friendship with her was an interesting one. She always made me crazy because she just wouldn't (in my opinion) act her age and take care of herself. As an independent single person it drove me nuts that she just wouldn't do things for herself. Like NUTS. Oddly, I was the only person in our friendship circle that could literally tell her that and she wouldn't take offense but rather see it as a constructive piece of advice. Even though sometimes I feel like I was meaner than kind. And looking back, I think I said some of those things more as advice than to be a nagging friend. At any rate, I think anyone that knew her had similar feelings about her at one point or another. Though she drove me nuts more often than not, we shared some rather fun and funny memories--- trips, backyard gatherings, race events, and Mexican food Sundays. She had moments of being hilarious. And she was kind. Like anyone, she wasn't perfect but she was well loved by many in her own way. I am certain her wife is missing her (even the not so perfect parts) every minute of every day that is not consumed with work or a major distraction. And that makes me so very sad for my friend.

Unfortunately, I had not seen (or even spoken) with that friend in many, many months. Living 1000s of miles away can sometimes do that. But there would often be things that would pop up that would be totally her and I would send a text or a card or an email and say "I've been thinking of you".
I didn't make it to her funeral. In part because of timing. And in part because I felt my time would be better used to help her wife (my good pal) pack up a house or take a much needed vacation with gal pals. Because of that decision it's not as real. I kind of forget. And then something comes up that she would love or find funny and I think "I should text her!" and I am reminded that she died. In the last week, there have been three or four little things that have prompted me to think of her.

Those kind of reminders pop up when I think of anyone I have lost. I am lucky that my loss is relatively minimal. But the gentle reminders of those I have loved pop up here and there. And I am grateful. I am sure for others it is very painful to think of people they have lost, but it brings me a little piece of them. A reminder of the part they played in my life. The joy or sorrow we shared. A fond memory of something they taught me. Or something that makes me laugh.

I can only kind of hope it's those that I have loved nudging me to take a minute and remember a happy moment. It's kind of neat if you think about it. Or at least it is to me.

Back to School.

This post is about 8 weeks late. (Shocker).


After an incredible summer that I have termed "grown-up summer vacation" and likely one of the bet summers I have had in years, I am officially back to work. I am working at a boarding school for at-risk youth outside of the city, practically in Indiana. It's not the necessarily the job I had in mind but I really think it's exactly the right fit (save the commute, but we'll get to that).
When I accepted the job and called my mom to tell her, not only was she relived I was back into the world of full time people, but she was audibly excited that I was working at a school. SHe has always thought I would make an excellent teacher. So did others. In 9th grade Livonia Public Schools does (or used to do) a career aptitude assessment. At the time I had aspirations to be a psychologist and live in Seattle because it rained there all the time and people are depressed because of it. I liked (and still do) the rain so figured I'd be happy and get rich. If only it were that easy. But alas my assessment, along with my best pal Lisa Fab, came back and told me that was 90% fit to be a teacher. In 9th grade, with mothers who taught preschoolers together, Lisa and I were appalled. And I may have been a little offended. A Teacher?? As if! I would never make a boat load of money as a teacher. No thank you! Funny how the 9th grade version of yourself doesn't really know what is best. ;)
As it turns out, Lisa did become a teacher and from what I understand is a very good one at that. And of course throughout the years I have been a teacher in varying capacities-- trainer, kids swim instructor. It turns out the assessment was fairly accurate and that my mother is right (pretty much always is), I am a good teacher. Hmmmm.
Granted I am not a teacher at the school, but the Director of Special Events. I don't have the burden privilege of molding young lives but do get to hear them running around outside, engaging with one another. And because I can't just be uninvolved I am volunteering one night at week in the uber amazing KidsShop (art studio) and get to interact with the students there. It is so fun!
Plus, in my actual day-to-day, I actually have a team. I see people and laugh with people and meet with people instead of email or phone, all day everyday! My corner office has become somewhat of a social spot (I know...surprise!) due in part to it's size and the fact that I have treats on the corner table. ;) But it's really great. They really support one another and me.
The only major negative is the commute. It is brutal. It's not something I want to choose to do everyday for the foreseeable future so I will likely have a new address in the coming months somewhere in the south loop (or elsewhere) to cut the commute in 1/2. That bums me out a bit because I LOVE my neighborhood,  but I know the new space will be as wonderful as every other place I have ever lived, maybe better!
All in all, the end to summer vacation has been better than expected.