JB Pritzker took office as the new governor of Illinois on January 14, 2019.
He set a fine tone for his inaugural address, hearkening to the recent celebration of the Bicentennial of Illinois and speaking to this state's rich heritage, all the breadth of people and places it encompasses.
I was also struck by his reference to Reverend Collier's words in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire, noting that our existence as a people is defined by the geography that came long before our time, placing us in a context larger than ourselves, and can help us face the difficulties before us, knowing we can make things better.
It was with that background that he laid out his agenda to enhance the quality of life for Illinoisans by creating jobs, boosting the economy, addressing climate issues, and criminal justice reform. It was also notable how he discussed the need to improve infrastructure, even connecting it with allowing people to have a smoother, faster commute so they can enjoy more quality time at home.
And he drew from that agenda during his first budget address. Similar to Bruce Rauner, he talked about how there's no easy way out of the financial mess Illinois is in, and there will be some pain on the way to making things better, which would certainly be the case with his call for increases in income taxes for certain individuals. Governor Pritzker clearly laid out priorities for health and human services, including education, as an important part of the budget, although he didn't say much in regards to infrastructure, which is certainly needed. He also makes the legalization of marijuana a core part of addressing the budget woes Illinois faces, but I'm not so convinced that legalizing marijuana will really help society, much less address the budget issues at stake.
In the midst of a difficult situation, we can only hope Governor Pritzker will demonstrate good leadership and work in a bipartisan fashion to put Illinois on good footing, and do it in the long-run, just as he says that the plan he proposes is a multi-year effort to get Illinois back in shape.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
SOTU 2019 Thoughts
There was much at stake with President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address on February 5, as was made abundantly clear in the commentary-heavy opening montage of NBC's coverage.
President Trump's speech was definitely a response to the difficult circumstances surrounding the government as of late, especially with the government's recent shutdown mode for a lengthy amount of time, which contributed to the SOTU's postponement by a week.
As would fit any leader in times like these, President Trump sought to set a conciliatory tone of unity right away.
And he carried it on, especially when he remarked that there are more women members of Congress now than ever before. That seemed to connect well with another major theme of the speech, extolling the greatness of the United States, through exemplary citizens, like Buzz Aldrin.
President Trump continued to emphasize his major agenda item of funds for constructing a border wall, though I think his approach should try to incorporate a greater variety of techniques that can be used to secure the border, rather than focus so much attention on a physical barrier.
I was very pleased when he called out the evil of abortion, especially in light of laws in some states that do not explicitly protect babies that survive abortion attempts. Certainly President Trump has taken more action to protect babies from abortion than any other president, and has emphasized his pro-life stance more vocally, particularly by appearing via video at the National March for Life. Vice President Pence has upheld the Trump administration's stance by appearing more than once at the National March for Life.
Stacey Abrams had a measured tone in delivering her response to the SOTU address. I was pleased to hear her mention that her mother was a librarian, and how both of her parents instilled in her strong values.
Similar to President Trump, she also emphasized that politicians should work in a spirit of unity to serve the American people.
I'm not so convinced, though, that the current administration is entirely responsible for causing economic hardships, because any approach to enhance the economy will have drawbacks. I'm also concerned by the way she claimed advances to restrict abortion are done to advance a political agenda, when I see them as a means to enhance the quality of our society.
I pray we find greatness as a nation by upholding the sacred right of life, which can compel us to live in better relationships with one another as we tackle the other problems in striving for a more just and humane society.
President Trump's speech was definitely a response to the difficult circumstances surrounding the government as of late, especially with the government's recent shutdown mode for a lengthy amount of time, which contributed to the SOTU's postponement by a week.
As would fit any leader in times like these, President Trump sought to set a conciliatory tone of unity right away.
And he carried it on, especially when he remarked that there are more women members of Congress now than ever before. That seemed to connect well with another major theme of the speech, extolling the greatness of the United States, through exemplary citizens, like Buzz Aldrin.
President Trump continued to emphasize his major agenda item of funds for constructing a border wall, though I think his approach should try to incorporate a greater variety of techniques that can be used to secure the border, rather than focus so much attention on a physical barrier.
I was very pleased when he called out the evil of abortion, especially in light of laws in some states that do not explicitly protect babies that survive abortion attempts. Certainly President Trump has taken more action to protect babies from abortion than any other president, and has emphasized his pro-life stance more vocally, particularly by appearing via video at the National March for Life. Vice President Pence has upheld the Trump administration's stance by appearing more than once at the National March for Life.
Stacey Abrams had a measured tone in delivering her response to the SOTU address. I was pleased to hear her mention that her mother was a librarian, and how both of her parents instilled in her strong values.
Similar to President Trump, she also emphasized that politicians should work in a spirit of unity to serve the American people.
I'm not so convinced, though, that the current administration is entirely responsible for causing economic hardships, because any approach to enhance the economy will have drawbacks. I'm also concerned by the way she claimed advances to restrict abortion are done to advance a political agenda, when I see them as a means to enhance the quality of our society.
I pray we find greatness as a nation by upholding the sacred right of life, which can compel us to live in better relationships with one another as we tackle the other problems in striving for a more just and humane society.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
The Heart of Illinois
After shivering in the cold for an extra 10 minutes or so, bright white lights approaching from the distance signaled that I would be getting closer to the heart of Illinois.
Soon, I could read the words "Lincoln Service" (#15 on my second Illinois 200 list) lit up on the engine display as Amtrak train #305 pulled into the Summit train station (#16). I was soon onboard and settled in for a fine ride that would get me to Springfield about 3 hours later.
While the darkness largely obscured much of what was outside the train windows, it made the decorative Christmas lights really stand out when we passed by homes and through towns.
It was rather quiet in downtown Springfield as I walked toward my hotel, but there were areas that were fabulously lit up, especially in the plaza (#17) around the Old State Capitol.
And from my room on the 26th floor of the Wyndham Springfield City Centre Hotel (#18), I got great views of the lights, especially those strung up on the dome of the current State Capitol building (#19).
When I awoke the next morning, the daylight revealed many notable sights in Springfield.
I visited a few of them that day, starting with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
I first went there back in July 2005, shortly after it opened. This most recent visit was a great chance to reconnect with a memorable museum.
The first exhibit I went to see was the temporary exhibit that looked at the four presidents with an Illinois connection: Abraham Lincoln, Ulyssses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama. There were various artifacts on display, and excerpts from speeches on the displays and playing on a screen. Close to the entrance of the exhibit was a display of the first Illinois state constitution, as you can see in the photo below.
This exhibit really helped give depth to these leaders and what factors influenced their leadership.
The museum does a fabulous job helping acquaint people with Abraham Lincoln, the most notable of all Springfield citizens, and the quintessential Illinoisan.
The times and experiences of his life are brought alive in the exhibits, with recreated scenes of log cabin life where he grew up, his Springfield law office, and rooms in the White House during the momentous years of his presidency, like when he announced his intention to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. There are also other cool visual displays, like Tim Russert offering commentary on the four presidential candidates in the 1860 election, and the Sectional War in 4 minutes. Toward the end of the 2nd exhibit on that takes a look at his life is a space that recreates when Mr. Lincoln's body lay in state in the House of Representatives chambers in the Old Illinois State Capitol. I didn't notice before that above the speaker's podium is a portrait of George Washington. It was quite profound to see the first US president looking over the 16th.
The two shows at the museum also facilitate a strong connection to the history of Abraham Lincoln and his times. The Union Theater has Through Lincoln's Eyes, which uses the effort to create a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as a guide to tell his life story, with lots of stunning audiovisual effects. Toward the end, the narrator noted that as we think about the values he advocated in his life, we see ourselves in Abraham Lincoln. I also went to see the show Ghosts of the Library. It has a great message about how we connect with history and we bring it alive when we see that we strive for the same values as they did in the past, and so their stories become our stories.
I also saw an exhibit featuring Nativity/Christmas decorations from presidents of the 20th Century.
It was around midday when I met up with Dave Joens, the director of the Illinois State Archives, who I know through my Grandma. We departed the museum and took in some of the sights in and around downtown Springfield. He even showed me around the Illinois State Capitol building. The renovations in the Senate chamber (please see photo below) had finished since my last visit in September, so I was pleased to have the chance to go inside.
I also liked seeing the Christmas and other holiday decorations in the rotunda.
It was also interesting to get his perspective as he showed me around. Then we had lunch at Boone's Saloon, a popular spot for Illinois state government workers and members of the General Assembly. While I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise, I decided to order a turkey burger with a lemon avocado mayonnaise on it, and sweet potato waffle fries on the side. It was a tasty meal. And it was great having the chance to spend time with Dave, who allowed me a more personal connection to Illinois state government.
Dave then dropped me off at the Old State Capitol, where I went inside to look around briefly.
I then dashed south to the Governor's Mansion for a tour. The tour guide showed us around the rooms, noting what was new with the recent renovations, and the furniture and artwork of note in each room. There were also fascinating stories in the various rooms connected with different governors, like the rooms that served as their offices, famous dignitaries who visited, and the antics of former governors' children who lived there, like the ones who slid down the banister of the main staircase. The house looked splendid with the Nativity/Christmas decorations up, along with all the other pieces of artwork currently on display. The renovation effort did a great job making the house look so resplendent again, allowing citizens to connect with "the People's House" as Governor and First Lady Rauner have dubbed it.
Then I went to 4 PM Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (#20). It was special to go to the seat of the See of Springfield Diocese (#21) as a way to wrap up the Illinois Bicentennial year of 2018. The Cathedral is notable in that its architectural design makes it appear like an ancient temple, especially with its columns and boxy look inside, perhaps a fitting statement in the place where Illinois government has its seat.
Following Mass, I wandered around central Springfield, including the area of the Lincoln Home Historic District, which was accessible for anyone to walk in, even though the site was not open for guided tours because of a lapse in federal appropriations.
I ended up at La Piazza for dinner, with a honey chicken salad, and lasagna. This restaurant is next door to Maldaner's (#22), which has been running as a business since the 1880's, and thereby claims to the be the oldest continuously operating restaurant on Historic US Route 66.
I wrapped up my day taking in splendid views of Springfield all lit up from the 30th floor of the hotel.
The next morning, after checking out of the hotel, I walked toward the train station. I stopped at Cafe Moxo to get a delicious breakfast of strawberry banana French toast. There was plenty of history to take in on my walk, with markers explaining various sites related to Mr. Lincoln, like the site of the Globe Tavern where he and Mrs. Lincoln rented a room during the early years of their marriage, which is now a parking lot. The Springfield Amtrak station is on the site of the train station where President Lincoln's funeral train arrived in Springfield in May 1865 (#23).
After a relatively short wait, Amtrak train #302 pulled in, and a huge crowd of us boarded.
We headed northeastward, along a corridor paralleling I-55 and Historic Route 66, traveling past farm fields and through small towns.
We were just about right on time reaching the station at Summit, where I detrained and then met my parents who came to pick me up and bring me home.
As I headed home and settled back into the routine of home, I came to realize how this trip touched me in a deep and special way.
As I've mentioned before, Springfield embodies many defining aspects of Illinois, especially as encompassed by the person of Abraham Lincoln, the quintessential Illinoisan, and so going there feels like a homecoming of sorts, and this trip was no exception. I spent much time throughout 2018 taking in the sights and places, to experience what Illinois has to offer, as a way of getting better acquainted with this state I call home. It was particularly special to celebrate the Bicentennial of Illinois and reconnect with my home state in deeper ways than before, especially after having experienced a time of separation from Illinois during my undergraduate years. The time I was away helped me feel more passionately about being an Illinoisan, and I've appreciated being here even more in the 5 1/2 years since I returned home after my undergraduate graduation, building upon the sense of pride I had in all the years while growing up in Illinois.
Many of the sites I went to during this trip were places I had visited before while growing up, so it was special to revisit them and thereby reconnect with earlier times in my life even as I experienced these places anew, like the Governor's Mansion, the Old State Capitol, and most especially the Lincoln Presidential Museum, as my first visit to that museum came in 2005, an extraordinarily significant year for me.
I could enjoy visiting these places in a new way in light of the Bicentennial year celebration, as well as the start of new terms of office for the members of the General Assembly and executive officials, which happened a couple of weeks after this trip.
While I didn't fully conceive it in when I planned this trip weeks before while taking advantage of a flash sale on Amtrak fares, this trip was a very fitting way to cap off the month of December and the year of 2018 when I focused on celebrating the Bicentennial.
And now as before I'm glad and proud to say that I am an Illinoisan.
Soon, I could read the words "Lincoln Service" (#15 on my second Illinois 200 list) lit up on the engine display as Amtrak train #305 pulled into the Summit train station (#16). I was soon onboard and settled in for a fine ride that would get me to Springfield about 3 hours later.
While the darkness largely obscured much of what was outside the train windows, it made the decorative Christmas lights really stand out when we passed by homes and through towns.
It was rather quiet in downtown Springfield as I walked toward my hotel, but there were areas that were fabulously lit up, especially in the plaza (#17) around the Old State Capitol.
 |
| Here is the view of the Old State Capitol building from ground level. |
 |
| Above is the current Illinois State Capitol building. Below is Union Square Park, right by Union Station. Both photos are from the view I had outside my hotel room window. Please note, all photos in the post are mine unless otherwise stated. |
When I awoke the next morning, the daylight revealed many notable sights in Springfield.
 |
| The Illinois State Capitol appears to the left in this photo. Near the center, you can see the reddish brick walkway in the Old State Capitol Plaza--that building is blocked by a taller building in this photo. Below, through the reflection of the curtains, you can see the Illinois Governor's Mansion, with a circular walkway in front of it. |
I visited a few of them that day, starting with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
 |
| The Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library are the buildings that appear near the center of this photo, with cylindrical forms. |
I first went there back in July 2005, shortly after it opened. This most recent visit was a great chance to reconnect with a memorable museum.
The first exhibit I went to see was the temporary exhibit that looked at the four presidents with an Illinois connection: Abraham Lincoln, Ulyssses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama. There were various artifacts on display, and excerpts from speeches on the displays and playing on a screen. Close to the entrance of the exhibit was a display of the first Illinois state constitution, as you can see in the photo below.
This exhibit really helped give depth to these leaders and what factors influenced their leadership.
The museum does a fabulous job helping acquaint people with Abraham Lincoln, the most notable of all Springfield citizens, and the quintessential Illinoisan.
 |
| Above and below are views of the primary permanent exhibit entrances in the museum. |
The times and experiences of his life are brought alive in the exhibits, with recreated scenes of log cabin life where he grew up, his Springfield law office, and rooms in the White House during the momentous years of his presidency, like when he announced his intention to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. There are also other cool visual displays, like Tim Russert offering commentary on the four presidential candidates in the 1860 election, and the Sectional War in 4 minutes. Toward the end of the 2nd exhibit on that takes a look at his life is a space that recreates when Mr. Lincoln's body lay in state in the House of Representatives chambers in the Old Illinois State Capitol. I didn't notice before that above the speaker's podium is a portrait of George Washington. It was quite profound to see the first US president looking over the 16th.
The two shows at the museum also facilitate a strong connection to the history of Abraham Lincoln and his times. The Union Theater has Through Lincoln's Eyes, which uses the effort to create a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as a guide to tell his life story, with lots of stunning audiovisual effects. Toward the end, the narrator noted that as we think about the values he advocated in his life, we see ourselves in Abraham Lincoln. I also went to see the show Ghosts of the Library. It has a great message about how we connect with history and we bring it alive when we see that we strive for the same values as they did in the past, and so their stories become our stories.
I also saw an exhibit featuring Nativity/Christmas decorations from presidents of the 20th Century.
It was around midday when I met up with Dave Joens, the director of the Illinois State Archives, who I know through my Grandma. We departed the museum and took in some of the sights in and around downtown Springfield. He even showed me around the Illinois State Capitol building. The renovations in the Senate chamber (please see photo below) had finished since my last visit in September, so I was pleased to have the chance to go inside.
I also liked seeing the Christmas and other holiday decorations in the rotunda.
 |
| a menorah |
 |
| a creche scene |
 |
| Dave took this picture of me in the rotunda. |
 |
| This sign explains the religious displays in the rotunda. |
It was also interesting to get his perspective as he showed me around. Then we had lunch at Boone's Saloon, a popular spot for Illinois state government workers and members of the General Assembly. While I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise, I decided to order a turkey burger with a lemon avocado mayonnaise on it, and sweet potato waffle fries on the side. It was a tasty meal. And it was great having the chance to spend time with Dave, who allowed me a more personal connection to Illinois state government.
 |
| Here's my meal, with the signature "B" to mark this as a Boone's Saloon burger. |
 |
| Outside the Old State Capitol |
 |
| Above is the House of Representatives chamber in the Old State Capitol, with George Washington's portrait behind the speaker's position. Below is the rotunda in the Old State Capitol. |
 |
| The scene at the Old State Capitol Plaza, near the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office building. |
I then dashed south to the Governor's Mansion for a tour. The tour guide showed us around the rooms, noting what was new with the recent renovations, and the furniture and artwork of note in each room. There were also fascinating stories in the various rooms connected with different governors, like the rooms that served as their offices, famous dignitaries who visited, and the antics of former governors' children who lived there, like the ones who slid down the banister of the main staircase. The house looked splendid with the Nativity/Christmas decorations up, along with all the other pieces of artwork currently on display. The renovation effort did a great job making the house look so resplendent again, allowing citizens to connect with "the People's House" as Governor and First Lady Rauner have dubbed it.
Then I went to 4 PM Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (#20). It was special to go to the seat of the See of Springfield Diocese (#21) as a way to wrap up the Illinois Bicentennial year of 2018. The Cathedral is notable in that its architectural design makes it appear like an ancient temple, especially with its columns and boxy look inside, perhaps a fitting statement in the place where Illinois government has its seat.
Following Mass, I wandered around central Springfield, including the area of the Lincoln Home Historic District, which was accessible for anyone to walk in, even though the site was not open for guided tours because of a lapse in federal appropriations.
 |
| Above is the Illinois Bicentennial Plaza all lit up. Below is a view of the Illinois State Capitol from the Bicentennial Plaza. |
I ended up at La Piazza for dinner, with a honey chicken salad, and lasagna. This restaurant is next door to Maldaner's (#22), which has been running as a business since the 1880's, and thereby claims to the be the oldest continuously operating restaurant on Historic US Route 66.
I wrapped up my day taking in splendid views of Springfield all lit up from the 30th floor of the hotel.
The next morning, after checking out of the hotel, I walked toward the train station. I stopped at Cafe Moxo to get a delicious breakfast of strawberry banana French toast. There was plenty of history to take in on my walk, with markers explaining various sites related to Mr. Lincoln, like the site of the Globe Tavern where he and Mrs. Lincoln rented a room during the early years of their marriage, which is now a parking lot. The Springfield Amtrak station is on the site of the train station where President Lincoln's funeral train arrived in Springfield in May 1865 (#23).
 |
| the Springfield Amtrak train station |
 |
| Here is the view from the platform at the Springfield train station. The Illinois State Capitol building appears just right of center. |
After a relatively short wait, Amtrak train #302 pulled in, and a huge crowd of us boarded.
We headed northeastward, along a corridor paralleling I-55 and Historic Route 66, traveling past farm fields and through small towns.
 |
| The view of the Vermillion River near the station in Pontiac, IL |
 |
| Here, mostly likely north of Pontiac, IL, is a vintage barnside ad for Meramac Caverns, further along Route 66 in Missouri. |
 |
| The pavement closest to the foreground is a Frontage Road that is the alignment of Historic US Route 66. The pavement near the yellowish trash receptacles further back is Interstate 55. |
 |
| The view of Washington Street near the station in Dwight, IL |
As I headed home and settled back into the routine of home, I came to realize how this trip touched me in a deep and special way.
As I've mentioned before, Springfield embodies many defining aspects of Illinois, especially as encompassed by the person of Abraham Lincoln, the quintessential Illinoisan, and so going there feels like a homecoming of sorts, and this trip was no exception. I spent much time throughout 2018 taking in the sights and places, to experience what Illinois has to offer, as a way of getting better acquainted with this state I call home. It was particularly special to celebrate the Bicentennial of Illinois and reconnect with my home state in deeper ways than before, especially after having experienced a time of separation from Illinois during my undergraduate years. The time I was away helped me feel more passionately about being an Illinoisan, and I've appreciated being here even more in the 5 1/2 years since I returned home after my undergraduate graduation, building upon the sense of pride I had in all the years while growing up in Illinois.
Many of the sites I went to during this trip were places I had visited before while growing up, so it was special to revisit them and thereby reconnect with earlier times in my life even as I experienced these places anew, like the Governor's Mansion, the Old State Capitol, and most especially the Lincoln Presidential Museum, as my first visit to that museum came in 2005, an extraordinarily significant year for me.
I could enjoy visiting these places in a new way in light of the Bicentennial year celebration, as well as the start of new terms of office for the members of the General Assembly and executive officials, which happened a couple of weeks after this trip.
While I didn't fully conceive it in when I planned this trip weeks before while taking advantage of a flash sale on Amtrak fares, this trip was a very fitting way to cap off the month of December and the year of 2018 when I focused on celebrating the Bicentennial.
And now as before I'm glad and proud to say that I am an Illinoisan.
 |
| Dave got this photo of me with the Illinois State Capitol in the background. To the left is the Stratton Office Building. The collection of buildings that appears to the right of me in the photo includes the State Archives (#24), the Illinois State Museum, and the Howlett Secretary of State building. |
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Gifts 2018: Reflecting in the Spirit of the Magi
Today, January 6, is the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating God's manifestation through Christ to peoples of all nations, which happened when the Magi presented gifts to Christ, having journeyed from a faraway location to the east to worship Him.
There is symbolism that indicates the gold is to honor Christ as King of Kings, the frankincense to honor His role as the Great High Priest, and the myrrh to recognize the sacrifice He would make to save humanity from sin.
Father Larry McNally, former pastor of Ascension Parish, used this symbolism to reflect on his gifts during his homily on Epiphany Sunday. I now use this symbolism as a guide, not to review all my gifts, but to reflect on aspects of some gifts I gave and received for the occasion of the Nativity of the Lord on December 25, 2018:
For his first celebration of the Nativity with us, I gave Weasley, my nephew dog, a sizable jar of peanut butter, so he can enjoy licking spoonfuls of it out of his Kong toy.
It was quite something watch him as his gift was unwrapped. I gave my Dad a DVD copy of the movie Marley and Me, as I recognize his fondness for dogs. I gave my Abuela some nice chamomile tea.
My brother gave me some nice books on interesting topics that I look forward to reading--in the From section on the tag, he said it was from him and Weasley. I was floored to see my parents gave me an Amtrak gift card. I'm eager for the opportunity to use it, and I have plenty of trip ideas ready for it. And I think about the gift cards I received in recognition of my efforts as RE teacher. One gift card I received from the RE office staff I was able to put toward the purchase of food for a family dinner a few days later.
Above all, it was great just being together, especially when Dad brought out a fun game to unwrap presents tied up in lots of shrink wrap. There is a beauty in being present with one another, just as God has come to abide so closely with us forever in Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God for encountering His Presence in the Word Made Flesh in the gifts we exchange in celebration of His Nativity.
(The above is something that is written above the door to the house on the occasion of Epiphany. The 20 and 19 signify the year 2019. The letters stand for the traditional names for the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The four crosses represent the four seasons.)
There is symbolism that indicates the gold is to honor Christ as King of Kings, the frankincense to honor His role as the Great High Priest, and the myrrh to recognize the sacrifice He would make to save humanity from sin.
Father Larry McNally, former pastor of Ascension Parish, used this symbolism to reflect on his gifts during his homily on Epiphany Sunday. I now use this symbolism as a guide, not to review all my gifts, but to reflect on aspects of some gifts I gave and received for the occasion of the Nativity of the Lord on December 25, 2018:
For his first celebration of the Nativity with us, I gave Weasley, my nephew dog, a sizable jar of peanut butter, so he can enjoy licking spoonfuls of it out of his Kong toy.
 |
| Here's Weasley, eagerly sniffing at his first Nativity gift from me, with his tail wagging excitedly, as my brother Eric unwraps it. |
It was quite something watch him as his gift was unwrapped. I gave my Dad a DVD copy of the movie Marley and Me, as I recognize his fondness for dogs. I gave my Abuela some nice chamomile tea.
My brother gave me some nice books on interesting topics that I look forward to reading--in the From section on the tag, he said it was from him and Weasley. I was floored to see my parents gave me an Amtrak gift card. I'm eager for the opportunity to use it, and I have plenty of trip ideas ready for it. And I think about the gift cards I received in recognition of my efforts as RE teacher. One gift card I received from the RE office staff I was able to put toward the purchase of food for a family dinner a few days later.
Above all, it was great just being together, especially when Dad brought out a fun game to unwrap presents tied up in lots of shrink wrap. There is a beauty in being present with one another, just as God has come to abide so closely with us forever in Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God for encountering His Presence in the Word Made Flesh in the gifts we exchange in celebration of His Nativity.
20+C+M+B+19
(The above is something that is written above the door to the house on the occasion of Epiphany. The 20 and 19 signify the year 2019. The letters stand for the traditional names for the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The four crosses represent the four seasons.)
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
The Grapes of Anticipation 2019
With a sense of wistfulness in me for the year that has concluded, we're back at it, a new year with that fresh, "blank slate" feeling. To get myself eager to head into a new year, I shall ponder what I anticipate in 2019 in accordance with the Spanish costume of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of the new year of 2019.
Grape #1: Later this month, I am scheduled to attending World Youth Day in Panama City, Panama. I'm looking forward to being part of this large gathering of the Church and engaging with faith in a whole new way.
Grape #2: The Illinois Bicentennial celebration in 2018 got me excited about all that Illinois has to offer, and I look forward to taking more small road trips throughout Illinois to continue sightseeing and celebrating, now that Illinois has attained 200 years of statehood.
Grape #3: I'm looking forward to tuning in to PBS to see what happens in Victoria Season 3.
Grape #4: There are local elections coming up, and I'm eager to participate in the discussions in the campaign process leading to those elections.
Grape #5: I'm excited to participate in more Chicago Architecture Center tours, as a means of continuing to enjoy my CAC membership.
Grape #6: I plan to enjoy more audiobooks during my commutes to work--and perhaps even on some of those road trips.
Grape #7: Disney is coming up with live-action versions of some of its well-known movies, and I look forward to seeing how they are received, especially given how many views the trailer for The Lion King got within the first day of being released.
Grape #8: There are some anniversaries coming up this year. This May will mark 20 years since my first communion. May will also be 150 years since the Golden Spike was driven that completed the Transcontinental Railroad. It is an occasion that I'm thinking will allow me to engage my enamorment for trains in a whole new way. July will bring the 50th Anniversary of the first moon landing.
Grape #9: I'm scheduled for a trip to Washington, D.C., in May with Mom, and I look forward to the experiences of both being there and also getting there, in Amtrak sleeper class.
Grape #10: Among my family, friends, and colleagues, I know many who have made significant professional moves in 2018, and I look forward to following their next steps in 2019.
Grape #11: I'm anticipating the opportunities I'll have to participate in service and social activities of the Knights of Columbus, as well as any other opportunities for service, particularly in the faith-based context.
Grape #1: Later this month, I am scheduled to attending World Youth Day in Panama City, Panama. I'm looking forward to being part of this large gathering of the Church and engaging with faith in a whole new way.
Grape #2: The Illinois Bicentennial celebration in 2018 got me excited about all that Illinois has to offer, and I look forward to taking more small road trips throughout Illinois to continue sightseeing and celebrating, now that Illinois has attained 200 years of statehood.
Grape #3: I'm looking forward to tuning in to PBS to see what happens in Victoria Season 3.
Grape #4: There are local elections coming up, and I'm eager to participate in the discussions in the campaign process leading to those elections.
Grape #5: I'm excited to participate in more Chicago Architecture Center tours, as a means of continuing to enjoy my CAC membership.
Grape #6: I plan to enjoy more audiobooks during my commutes to work--and perhaps even on some of those road trips.
Grape #7: Disney is coming up with live-action versions of some of its well-known movies, and I look forward to seeing how they are received, especially given how many views the trailer for The Lion King got within the first day of being released.
Grape #8: There are some anniversaries coming up this year. This May will mark 20 years since my first communion. May will also be 150 years since the Golden Spike was driven that completed the Transcontinental Railroad. It is an occasion that I'm thinking will allow me to engage my enamorment for trains in a whole new way. July will bring the 50th Anniversary of the first moon landing.
Grape #9: I'm scheduled for a trip to Washington, D.C., in May with Mom, and I look forward to the experiences of both being there and also getting there, in Amtrak sleeper class.
Grape #10: Among my family, friends, and colleagues, I know many who have made significant professional moves in 2018, and I look forward to following their next steps in 2019.
Grape #11: I'm anticipating the opportunities I'll have to participate in service and social activities of the Knights of Columbus, as well as any other opportunities for service, particularly in the faith-based context.
Grape #12: As a librarian, I know how important it is to keep learning, and I'll be seeking new things to learn in 2019. I say this especially in the context of what I'll learn about faith as I engage with it. I had some great experience with Real Life Catholic and Dynamic Catholic offerings, and I look forward to seeing what else they offer this year. And in accordance with the adage, "The best way to learn something is to teach it", I am particularly enthused to engage with faith by continuing the glorious work of handing on the faith to the next generation, particularly my RE students.
I now commend this year of 2019 to the grace of God, as I get ready for what I anticipate, and open myself to all else that will arise in the course of the year.
Monday, December 31, 2018
The Grapes of Reflection 2018
I'm pleased to once again spend some time reflecting on the calendar year that is drawing to a close. In keeping with what I've done in the past few years on this blog, I'm using the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes on the occasion of the changing to a New Year as a guide to provide points of focus for reflecting on this year. Many of the highlights covered in these grapes touch on major events that I embraced with a strong personal dimension.
Grape #1: It was with great delight that I celebrated the Illinois Bicentennial, not only on December 3, but throughout the year, as I took many small road trips to see the sights of Illinois and get a better sense of what this state is all about where I have made my home. I enjoyed the trips, which gave me the chance to see Charles Mound, and the former state capital cities of Kaskaskia and Vandalia. Going to Springfield for the dedication of the Bicentennial Plaza on August 26 was a memorable day. And as also part of my travels, I enjoyed riding in Amtrak Business class for the first time when coming back from Galesburg. Illinois has a lot to offer and has really becoming something over the past 200 years--a far cry from James Monroe's observations that not much would come of the vast prairies he saw in the 18th Century. By the time he put his signature to the resolution admitting Illinois as the 21st state, the potential Illinois held had already been tapped, and what a ride it's been for two centuries.
Grape #2: I enjoyed the opportunity to travel back to St. Augustine Mission five years after going there on a trip of service. It was wonderful to reconnect with the people and places there and elsewhere in eastern Nebraska, and to have a trip with a strong spiritual component as well, manifested in visiting with Fathers Dave and Mark, attending Mass, and joining the Benedictine sisters in their evening prayer.
Grape #3: It was an honor to join the prestigious Knights of Columbus, which has a well-established reputation for upholding strong values in the Church so as to have a meaningful impact on society through service.
Grape #4: I enjoyed the opportunity to get in on some of the action at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. I finally was able to get access to seeing some of the curling games. Watching the opening and closing ceremonies also gave me the chance to take in some Korean culture, particularly K-Pop music.
Grape #5: I was glad to do my part contributing to the democratic process of the Republic of the United States and serve people in my community as an election judge for the November 6 elections, which, like the times before, was an equally exhausting and exhilarating experience.
Grape #6: I had many fabulous opportunities to participate in offerings by the newly-renamed Chicago Architecture Center, which moved to a new location this year, and changed its name from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. I was at the opening weekend for the new CAC location, on Labor Day weekend, and I won a contest, which gave me as a prize a CAC membership, with plenty of opportunities to go on tours to take in some of Chicago's amazing architecture, which I also did on Open House Chicago weekend. My brother and I also went on a nighttime architectural river cruise, whose tickets were also a prize.
Grape #7: As a way to pass the time with a longer distance to reach work than I had before my current job, I started to play audiobooks while commuting, which included many great books, including the Eric Metaxas biographies on Martin Luther and William Wilberforce, Daniel Pink's When, and a book compiling multiple speeches David McCullough gave on various occasions.
Grape #8: It was a true blessing to join the celebrations for Dan and Ann Ruggaber's Golden Wedding Anniversary back in August, and to take stock of the extraordinary relationship we've forged over the past 9 years that make me as much as part of their family as any of their sons, siblings, and other relatives.
Grape #9: With great joy, I marked in my own way the many other milestones that various people in my extended family attained this year. Our family also welcomed a new addition: It's been a pleasure getting to know Weasley, the dog my brother and sister-in-law have had since June.
Grape #10: I jumped at the opportunity to make a donation to the Julian mural project to give a meaningful opportunity for student artists to spend their time during summer break, while I also could give tribute to the extraordinary impact my Julian experience has had on my life. The mural is a masterpiece, and it was a very memorable day when I attended the dedication ceremony for it.
Grape #11: I was able to reconnect with the amazing impact of my time at Valparaiso University as I marked the 5-year anniversary of my graduation from there. Leading up to it, I went back there to talk with students about careers and share insights from my own experiences.
Grape #12: One of the most significant parts of my post-college life has been teaching Religious Education, which has given me the chance to channel the newfound zeal for faith I attained upon graduating from ValpU. Most meaningful has been the way I have connected with my students as I pass on the great gift of faith to them.
As I think back on this year, I realize many of the significant events have drawn meaning from the various communities and families of which I've been a part: my own family, the Ruggaber family, my home parish and the RE community within it, the Knights of Columbus (both the local Ascension council and the larger organization), the larger global Church, the United States, the State of Illinois. There's something incredible that happens when we come together, as we're able to create something that we could not doing as individuals.
I think about the song, "Glorious". I stumbled upon on YouTube video of the One Voice Youth Choir singing it, and the song quickly became one of my favorites. (The link goes to a version with the lyrics, and the video below shows the youth choir singing it.)
The song is in the soundtrack of Meet the Mormons, a documentary that profiles various Mormons. The lyrics speak so richly to how we each have a purpose, and when we join together in living out that purpose, we create a beautiful, glorious symphony.
As I think about the communities I'm part of, I think about my place in them, and the contributions I've made to enrich them, which is why I've had so much reason to celebrate their special occasions. These communities are a part of me, and have shaped me, much as I am part of them, and have shaped them like all the others who are part of them. So I really have had so much reason to celebrate.
But what's more, these communities all embody timeless values. So even as we bid farewell to 2018 and head into 2019, and as each successive year comes and goes, we find a firm foundation as we take our part to uphold the values these communities embody. I thought much about this a couple of days ago when I was in Springfield, IL, for sightseeing as a way to extend the celebration of the Illinois Bicentennial. Abraham Lincoln did much to uphold the values of the United States, much as did many others during a time of great crisis, particularly the soldiers in combat.
While they lived years ago, we are still connected with them, because we are part of the same country as they were, and we strive to uphold the same values as they did. When their stories are told, they become alive as we embrace what they embraced.
Indeed, like is espoused in aboriginal American and also Roman Catholic spirituality, there is a connectedness we experience that transcends the bounds of time and space, bound up in the words, "All my relations."
As I see it, I'll keep carrying the cherished memories of the momentous experienced I had during this year of 2018 as I keep participating in the various communities of which I'm a part and continue to embrace and uphold the timeless values they embody, like I did in 2018.
Grape #1: It was with great delight that I celebrated the Illinois Bicentennial, not only on December 3, but throughout the year, as I took many small road trips to see the sights of Illinois and get a better sense of what this state is all about where I have made my home. I enjoyed the trips, which gave me the chance to see Charles Mound, and the former state capital cities of Kaskaskia and Vandalia. Going to Springfield for the dedication of the Bicentennial Plaza on August 26 was a memorable day. And as also part of my travels, I enjoyed riding in Amtrak Business class for the first time when coming back from Galesburg. Illinois has a lot to offer and has really becoming something over the past 200 years--a far cry from James Monroe's observations that not much would come of the vast prairies he saw in the 18th Century. By the time he put his signature to the resolution admitting Illinois as the 21st state, the potential Illinois held had already been tapped, and what a ride it's been for two centuries.
Grape #2: I enjoyed the opportunity to travel back to St. Augustine Mission five years after going there on a trip of service. It was wonderful to reconnect with the people and places there and elsewhere in eastern Nebraska, and to have a trip with a strong spiritual component as well, manifested in visiting with Fathers Dave and Mark, attending Mass, and joining the Benedictine sisters in their evening prayer.
Grape #3: It was an honor to join the prestigious Knights of Columbus, which has a well-established reputation for upholding strong values in the Church so as to have a meaningful impact on society through service.
Grape #4: I enjoyed the opportunity to get in on some of the action at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. I finally was able to get access to seeing some of the curling games. Watching the opening and closing ceremonies also gave me the chance to take in some Korean culture, particularly K-Pop music.
Grape #5: I was glad to do my part contributing to the democratic process of the Republic of the United States and serve people in my community as an election judge for the November 6 elections, which, like the times before, was an equally exhausting and exhilarating experience.
Grape #6: I had many fabulous opportunities to participate in offerings by the newly-renamed Chicago Architecture Center, which moved to a new location this year, and changed its name from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. I was at the opening weekend for the new CAC location, on Labor Day weekend, and I won a contest, which gave me as a prize a CAC membership, with plenty of opportunities to go on tours to take in some of Chicago's amazing architecture, which I also did on Open House Chicago weekend. My brother and I also went on a nighttime architectural river cruise, whose tickets were also a prize.
Grape #7: As a way to pass the time with a longer distance to reach work than I had before my current job, I started to play audiobooks while commuting, which included many great books, including the Eric Metaxas biographies on Martin Luther and William Wilberforce, Daniel Pink's When, and a book compiling multiple speeches David McCullough gave on various occasions.
Grape #8: It was a true blessing to join the celebrations for Dan and Ann Ruggaber's Golden Wedding Anniversary back in August, and to take stock of the extraordinary relationship we've forged over the past 9 years that make me as much as part of their family as any of their sons, siblings, and other relatives.
Grape #9: With great joy, I marked in my own way the many other milestones that various people in my extended family attained this year. Our family also welcomed a new addition: It's been a pleasure getting to know Weasley, the dog my brother and sister-in-law have had since June.
Grape #10: I jumped at the opportunity to make a donation to the Julian mural project to give a meaningful opportunity for student artists to spend their time during summer break, while I also could give tribute to the extraordinary impact my Julian experience has had on my life. The mural is a masterpiece, and it was a very memorable day when I attended the dedication ceremony for it.
Grape #11: I was able to reconnect with the amazing impact of my time at Valparaiso University as I marked the 5-year anniversary of my graduation from there. Leading up to it, I went back there to talk with students about careers and share insights from my own experiences.
Grape #12: One of the most significant parts of my post-college life has been teaching Religious Education, which has given me the chance to channel the newfound zeal for faith I attained upon graduating from ValpU. Most meaningful has been the way I have connected with my students as I pass on the great gift of faith to them.
As I think back on this year, I realize many of the significant events have drawn meaning from the various communities and families of which I've been a part: my own family, the Ruggaber family, my home parish and the RE community within it, the Knights of Columbus (both the local Ascension council and the larger organization), the larger global Church, the United States, the State of Illinois. There's something incredible that happens when we come together, as we're able to create something that we could not doing as individuals.
I think about the song, "Glorious". I stumbled upon on YouTube video of the One Voice Youth Choir singing it, and the song quickly became one of my favorites. (The link goes to a version with the lyrics, and the video below shows the youth choir singing it.)
The song is in the soundtrack of Meet the Mormons, a documentary that profiles various Mormons. The lyrics speak so richly to how we each have a purpose, and when we join together in living out that purpose, we create a beautiful, glorious symphony.
As I think about the communities I'm part of, I think about my place in them, and the contributions I've made to enrich them, which is why I've had so much reason to celebrate their special occasions. These communities are a part of me, and have shaped me, much as I am part of them, and have shaped them like all the others who are part of them. So I really have had so much reason to celebrate.
But what's more, these communities all embody timeless values. So even as we bid farewell to 2018 and head into 2019, and as each successive year comes and goes, we find a firm foundation as we take our part to uphold the values these communities embody. I thought much about this a couple of days ago when I was in Springfield, IL, for sightseeing as a way to extend the celebration of the Illinois Bicentennial. Abraham Lincoln did much to uphold the values of the United States, much as did many others during a time of great crisis, particularly the soldiers in combat.
While they lived years ago, we are still connected with them, because we are part of the same country as they were, and we strive to uphold the same values as they did. When their stories are told, they become alive as we embrace what they embraced.
Indeed, like is espoused in aboriginal American and also Roman Catholic spirituality, there is a connectedness we experience that transcends the bounds of time and space, bound up in the words, "All my relations."
As I see it, I'll keep carrying the cherished memories of the momentous experienced I had during this year of 2018 as I keep participating in the various communities of which I'm a part and continue to embrace and uphold the timeless values they embody, like I did in 2018.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
2018 News and Events in Review
As was scheduled, this year 2018 brought another round of midterm elections.
In Illinois, that meant it was time for elections for constitutional statewide offices. There were plenty of people running for the Democratic nomination. Bruce Rauner had a challenge to the Republican nomination for Jeanne Ives. While he made it through that challenge, another right-leaning candidates, Sam McCann, joined the race. Ultimately, J.B. Pritzker claimed victory, quite soon after polls closing.
On the national level in politics, controversy continued to broil over President Donald Trump, and multiple books were released that gave an insider look at the Trump administration. Some of the cabinet-level officials departed, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and more recently the news came of the departure of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley announced she would be leaving her post, and unlike other administration officials, will do so on good terms.
Great outcry ensued when the Trump administration's actions to address immigration problems led to the separation of children from their parents who were attempting to enter the US through unofficial means. Protest rallies were held in cities across the country, including in Chicago on a hot summer day. Near the end of the year, the federal government went into shutdown mode because of President Trump's insistence on $5 billion funding for a wall on the southern US border, which was one of multiple instances when the federal government went into shutdown.
Across the Irish Sea, a blow was struck against the legal protection for the unborn when Ireland voted to repeal an amendment restricting abortions.
Rescuers worked tirelessly to rescue a soccer team that was trapped inside a cave in Thailand, a story that captured the world's attention.
The eyes of the world turned to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February, with a notable scene of North and South Korean athletes parading into the stadium together.
President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jon-Un met for a summit in Singapore, which was almost entirely called off.
Mexico elected a new president, Andres Manuel Lobrador Lopez.
Canada legalized marijuana nationwide, as also happened in some US states resulting from the midterm elections.
A great scandal erupted when a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report on clergy sexual abuse, and shook the church to its core as Roman Catholics struggled to make sense of the situation. The US bishops met in Baltimore at their annual fall assembly ready to discuss a course of action, but were instructed by the Vatican to wait.
Earlier in the year, before the scandal broke, a documentary came to theaters on Pope Francis.
It was around the same time that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in May. Much less publicized was the wedding of President George W. Bush's daughter Barbara.
Eyes focused on events in Europe when the world marked 100 years since the armistice that ended World War I.
Far from the Earth, the InSight spacecraft reached Mars in late November, as NASA continues to strive toward new frontiers, just like happened 50 years ago in 1968 as the success of Apollo 8 helped the US inch closer to a moon landing.
The famed Lessons and Carols from the Chapel of King's College in Cambridge has marked 100 years since it started.
And, of course, Illinois marked its Bicentennial this year. So we head off into a new year and forward into a new century in anticipation of the opportunities that will come.
In Illinois, that meant it was time for elections for constitutional statewide offices. There were plenty of people running for the Democratic nomination. Bruce Rauner had a challenge to the Republican nomination for Jeanne Ives. While he made it through that challenge, another right-leaning candidates, Sam McCann, joined the race. Ultimately, J.B. Pritzker claimed victory, quite soon after polls closing.
On the national level in politics, controversy continued to broil over President Donald Trump, and multiple books were released that gave an insider look at the Trump administration. Some of the cabinet-level officials departed, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and more recently the news came of the departure of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley announced she would be leaving her post, and unlike other administration officials, will do so on good terms.
Great outcry ensued when the Trump administration's actions to address immigration problems led to the separation of children from their parents who were attempting to enter the US through unofficial means. Protest rallies were held in cities across the country, including in Chicago on a hot summer day. Near the end of the year, the federal government went into shutdown mode because of President Trump's insistence on $5 billion funding for a wall on the southern US border, which was one of multiple instances when the federal government went into shutdown.
President Trump had another opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court justice when Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, and selected Judge Kavanaugh, who was subjected to a brutally withering confirmation process when allegations surfaced he had attempted to assault one of his peers back in his high school days. He survived to be confirmed, after an interesting vote, which almost meant Montana's US Senator Steve Daines would have to fly to Washington, D.C., after walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding ceremony, but then didn't have to when a Democratic Senator gave a present vote. Some Democratic senators in Republican-leaning states voted no and then were voted out of office in the midterm elections. Those elections delivered quite a varied set of results, with the Democrats making some advanced, but Republicans making advances, too.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jack Douglas in his case that arose when he refused to bake a cake for a homosexual marriage ceremony. But then he had to start up defending himself again after he refused to bake a cake for a customer wanting to celebrate a gender transition.
Locally, in Oak Park, the OPRFHS District 200 Board unanimously made a sweeping change in policy to make accommodations to transgender students, no longer doing so on a case-by-case basis.
High school students throughout the country took action with walkouts after a tragic shooting occurred at Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. There were other tragic shootings, including at a bar in southern California, with terrible wildfires raging nearby, and another at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Two major hurricanes struck the United States, Florence and Michael. There was also major flooding in southwestern India.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jack Douglas in his case that arose when he refused to bake a cake for a homosexual marriage ceremony. But then he had to start up defending himself again after he refused to bake a cake for a customer wanting to celebrate a gender transition.
Locally, in Oak Park, the OPRFHS District 200 Board unanimously made a sweeping change in policy to make accommodations to transgender students, no longer doing so on a case-by-case basis.
High school students throughout the country took action with walkouts after a tragic shooting occurred at Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. There were other tragic shootings, including at a bar in southern California, with terrible wildfires raging nearby, and another at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Two major hurricanes struck the United States, Florence and Michael. There was also major flooding in southwestern India.
Others who departed this life in 2018 include Aretha Franklin, George H.W and Barbara Bush, Billy Graham, Senator John McCain, 4 Chicago police officers, and little Alfie Evans, who died when the British government restricted his ability to get healthcare to address his rare neurological condition.
Across the Irish Sea, a blow was struck against the legal protection for the unborn when Ireland voted to repeal an amendment restricting abortions.
Rescuers worked tirelessly to rescue a soccer team that was trapped inside a cave in Thailand, a story that captured the world's attention.
The eyes of the world turned to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February, with a notable scene of North and South Korean athletes parading into the stadium together.
President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jon-Un met for a summit in Singapore, which was almost entirely called off.
Mexico elected a new president, Andres Manuel Lobrador Lopez.
Canada legalized marijuana nationwide, as also happened in some US states resulting from the midterm elections.
A great scandal erupted when a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report on clergy sexual abuse, and shook the church to its core as Roman Catholics struggled to make sense of the situation. The US bishops met in Baltimore at their annual fall assembly ready to discuss a course of action, but were instructed by the Vatican to wait.
Earlier in the year, before the scandal broke, a documentary came to theaters on Pope Francis.
It was around the same time that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in May. Much less publicized was the wedding of President George W. Bush's daughter Barbara.
Eyes focused on events in Europe when the world marked 100 years since the armistice that ended World War I.
Far from the Earth, the InSight spacecraft reached Mars in late November, as NASA continues to strive toward new frontiers, just like happened 50 years ago in 1968 as the success of Apollo 8 helped the US inch closer to a moon landing.
The famed Lessons and Carols from the Chapel of King's College in Cambridge has marked 100 years since it started.
And, of course, Illinois marked its Bicentennial this year. So we head off into a new year and forward into a new century in anticipation of the opportunities that will come.
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