Grapes of Reflection 2022

I gravitate toward a sense of reflection each year on New Year's Eve.

I'm reminded of Mater's quotation in the movie Cars: "Ain't no need to watch where I'm going. Just need to know where I've been."

While time is progressing on to a new year, in the spirit of REO Speedwagon's lyrics, "Keep on rolling", I think there's wisdom in Mater's insight about having an awareness of where we've been that drives us while we move forward.

I feel that I can draw from memories as I go forth into a new year by meaningfully finishing a concluding year.

And so, in accordance with the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of New Year's, I here reflect on 2022:

Grape #1: Traveling to the Washington, D.C., area was a splendid trip springing with highlights.

Grape #2: Traveling to California had so many wonderful experiences, like the beach, the Pacific Surfliner, and visiting Tijuana, my first time in Mexico.

Grape #3: Going to Jamestown for Lucy sightseeing was a great way to connect with my Grandma Dottie in the wake of her passing, who introduced me to I Love Lucy, and get the insider look at a show I enjoy so much.

Grape #4: I had some great opportunities to get involved with the OPRF History Museum.  In September, I participated in a presentation about the creation of the present-day middle schools in Oak Park.  On October 15, I volunteered at the museum for Open House Chicago.

Grape #5: It was an honor to have the exhausting and exhilarating experience of serving as an election judge twice during 2022, especially in teh connections I made with the community, including people I know from Church and specifically in the Religious Education community, including former students.

Grape #6: I am so grateful to God for the opportunity of landing my new job in the Klinck Memorial Library of Concordia University Chicago.

Grape #7: September 4 was a special day as I joined in the celebration for Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary.

Grape #8: As I partied like it was 1991 all over again on April 28, the anniversary of my baptism, I had double reason to celebrate on account of the priest who baptized me, Father Pacocha, who that day marked the 60th anniversary of his ordination.  I was blessed to attend a special Mass and celebration held in his honor on April 23 at St. Eugene.

Grape #9: I went back to St. Teresa's on September 18 to serve a meal for the college students, which was a great way to give back to that community by ministering to the current students, and for me to reconnect with a significant place in my life.

Grape #10: It was such a memorable day to mark 30th anniversary of when my family moved to our beloved home on Clarence Avenue in Oak Park.  It was truly all I envisioned it to be.

Grape #11: I had many friends visit me here in Oak Park in 2022.  Rogenique and Roy visited on New Year's weekend after we attended the wedding of Heather and Zach.  To bring it full circle, the Ruggabers visited me earlier today on New Year's Eve.  These were great visits as I brought together significant parts of my life.  And I was glad Matthew came during Memorial Day weekend to take up my offer of accompanying me on a CAC tour, as I got two free walking tour tickets for volunteering during OHC 2021.

Grape #12: I made so many great connections in Religious Education this year.  The Confirmation Masses that I attended earlier this year on February 19 and March 12 were two very special days.  Notably, the first Confirmation Mass happened on the final weekend of the 2022 Winter Olympics.  I saw parallels between both events:  Those involved in each had the opportunity to do like is sung in the song "I Believe" by Nikki Yanofsky--written for the 2010 Winter Olympics--to stand tall and make the world proud by joining together as one, the powerful invincible force by which we achieve highly--and in the case of the Confirmation Mass, it is the power of the Holy Spirit bringing us together that enables us to do the greater things that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel according to St. John.  It is a great honor to be in the trenches, so to speak, and participate in the formation of these young people to grow in relationship with God and live more deeply in the mystery of God we realize by faith.

In these and so many other ways, 2022 had ample opportunities for me to embrace what I hold dear and what is most important in life, timeless values that shall persist into 2023 and beyond.

Thanks be to God for the works He did in our lives and circumstances in 2022.

2022 News and Events in Review

This year had a distinct political focus that comes with a midterm election year.  The November elections had mixed results.  The Democrats eeked out a narrow majority after a Georgia runoff election triggered by a third-party candidate.  The Republicans got a slim majority in the US House.

Notably, the primary election in Illinois was on June 28, rather than in March as it has often happened in the past.

One issue at stake was inflation, as prices for commodities like food and gas spiked.  2022 brought exceedingly high gas prices, though they've come down somewhat since the middle months of the year.

Undoubtedly, a major issue driving the politicking that led to the November elections was the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs vs. Jackson case.  A slight majority effectively allowed the Mississippi state law limiting abortions to stand and also overturned Roe vs. Wade.  The official decision came after someone leaked a draft opinion in early May to Politico, in which Justice Alito wrote an opinion that overruled Roe vs. Wade.  (I haven't heard the results of the investigation that Chief Justice Roberts directed the Supreme Court Marshal to undertake, after he acknowledge the draft's validity in a press release.)

Abortion proponents went into overdrive in an attempt to prevent this decision from being issued, and also prepared to take steps to protect abortion.  Protestors went to the homes of Supreme Court justices who were in favor of upholding the Mississippi law and overturning Roe vs. Wade.  (Chief Justice Roberts ruled to let the law stand, but didn't necessarily join the majority to overrule Roe vs. Wade.)

The justices wouldn't be pressured, and the ruling held when officially issued on the morning of June 24.  That date is significant as the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, who leapt in the womb of his mother when he sensed the presence of Christ in the womb of His mother Mary.  It was also the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and it was a sign that God bestowed His mercy on the USA by righting a terrible wrong.  I went to Mass later that day, and it was special to experience the palpable excitement of the priest celebrating Mass about what was a truly notable development.

Much work remained to uphold protections for the unborn.  The day the ruling was issued, many states immediately enacted laws to restrict abortion.  Many other states took action to protect abortion.  The Oak Park Village Board of Trustees took action to make Oak Park an abortion sanctuary.

There were ballot initiatives addressing abortion in the primary and November elections, which were unsuccessful in protecting the unborn.  It's clear that much work remains, but a notable victory has been achieved that now shifts the debate back to where it belongs, closer to the people.  I continue to hope and pray for the conversion of hearts and minds so that June 24, 2022, will be recognized in our society as a truly great day.

Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, and President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his successor.  She was confirmed by the Senate and took her place on the Supreme Court when its term began in October.

Another major news story was Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in late February.  It was largely condemned throughout the international community.  There were even protests in Russia.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emerged as a powerful leader in this time of crisis.  He made an impromptu visit to the United States in December and addressed a joint session of Congress.  Pope Francis led a consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Virgin Mary on March 25.  In July, Pope Francis went on a trip to Canada to meet with First Nations peoples to offer an apology for abuses that occurred in residential schools.

The US bishops formally launched the Eucharistic Revival initiative on June 19, Corpus Christi Sunday.  Bishop Barron moved from Santa Barbara as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to become Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

Among the departures this year were Bishop Emeritus of Gary Dale Melczek, journalist Barbara Walters (right at the end of the year), actress Angela Lansbury, actor Sidney Poitier, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, historian David McCullough, and Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing was a major news story because she had achieved a high-profile status as the longest-reigning British monarch in history.

Her son succeeded her as King Charles III.  Two days before her passing, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Liz Truss as prime minister.  Following the funeral proceedings, Prime Minister Truss unveiled a plan to boost Britain's economy, but it caused such havoc that she was compelled to resign as Prime Minister about 6 weeks after taking office.  Rishi Sunak, who had competed for the spot previously, became the new Prime Minister.

Giorgia Meloni created a stir when she was elected prime minister of Italy, taking a strong right-leaning stance in her victory speech, addressing issues related to gender ideology and the family.

Locally, there were leadership changes in Oak Park.  Dr. Ushma Shah became the new District 97 superintendent.  Joslyn Bowling Dixon became the new executive director of the Oak Park Public Library in November, after David Seleb retired earlier in the year.  Shatonya Johnson became the new Oak Park Police Chief.

Notable anniversaries this year included 100 years since the births of St. Gianna Molla and Charles Schulz, and 200 years since the birth of Louis Pasteur.  The McCaughey 7 turned 25 in November.

The long-running children's TV show Arthur released its final episode in February, but it's a quality show that will last for a long time to come.

There was intense summer heat throughout the western United States in August.  Hurricane Ian caused major devastation in Florida in September.  An intense Arctic wintry blast engulfed the central and eastern USA in December, which partly contributed to major operational problems for Southwest Airlines.  In November, parts of New York state experienced copious amounts of lake-effect snow.  

The world came together for the Winter Olympics hosted by Beijing, and then in Qatar for the World Cup.  Emery Lehman, who first competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics during his final year at OPRFHS, participated in the 2022 Olympics and got a bronze medal.

Another 21 for Illinois at 204

With the recent 30th anniversary celebration of my coming to Oak Park, it's so appropriate to turn my attention to celebrating the birthday of Illinois today and party like it's 1818.

In the spirit of celebrating my residency in Oak Park for 3 decades, here is another list of 21 to celebrate Illinois, focusing on the Chicago suburbs:

1. Illinois Beach State Park in Zion

2. Orland Grassland by Orland Park

3. Swallowcliff Stairs in the Cook County Forest Preserve near Palos Park

4. Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center near Willow Springs

5. National Shrine of St. Therese in Darien

6. Will County Barn Quilt Trail

7. Lambs Farm

8. Woodstock Opera House

9. Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston

10. The Tower in Western Springs

11. The Glen Town Center in Glenview, on the site of the former Glenview Naval Air Station

12. MainStreet Libertyville

13. National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe

14. Chain of Lakes State Park

15. Naperville Riverwalk

16. Volo Bog State Natural Area

17. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

18. Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

19. Virginia Cassin, the longtime Oak Park Village Clerk

20. The new Candycopia Store on lake Street in Oak Park is a sure way to have a sweet day

21. The Kettlestrings Family was among the first to settle in what is now Oak Park, beginning a long lin of people who consider Oak Park so dearly, including me.

Happy Birthday, Illinois!

Partying like it's 1818 with an Italian-style beef sandwich for lunch today from Pete's Red Hots in far southern Oak Park

Not in the suburbs for this photo, but still partying: Mom photographed me near Wolf Point in downtown Chicago on the evening of December 3, after we viewed the light display at Merchandise Mart.  One of my former co-workers, a big Lincoln fan, sent me the scarf I'm wearing as  a gift, and it fit my mood for this day.