Ten years ago this day, on January 11, 2008, Sonya "Sunny" Greenberg was born, the daughter of Mrs. Greenberg, my high school US history teacher, and her husband, Geoff.
The arrival of a new baby is usually a matter of good news, which was especially the case with little Sunny.
I met Sunny on the first day of my junior year at OPRF High School on August 22, 2007. US History was my final class of the day, during 8th period. Mrs. Greenberg was standing outside the classroom door greeting her students as they arrived for class, and she was already 5 months pregnant with Sunny.
My Grandpa José was already in declining health when I started my junior year and he passed away from this life on October 8, 2007. His passing was hard on me because we were close. I struggled with emotions of grief and sorrow, afraid of getting sucked into a hopeless hole in which there would be only the darkness of death.
In this time of sorrow, it was such a comfort to walk into my US history class each day, and see Mrs. Greenberg and Sunny with her. It was a powerful reminder that though, under God's watchful eye, life comes to an end, under the same God, life comes into our world. I didn't have to be hopeless in the face of death because I could have hope in the life entering our world.
I've written from time to time on this blog about my pro-life views. Over the years, my stance has become more articulate as I've become better acquainted with facts and figures about the harm abortion does to individuals and our society in general. But facts only go so far. It's stories that make an impact. In my life, I solidified my position against abortion when I was in middle school. But the passing of Grandpa José and the entry of Sunny into the world helped strengthen my commitment to the pro-life movement.
A baby is good news, and we should be focused on making sure that every person who is conceived is able to enter into the world and be the good news our world so desperately need. It should be absolutely unconscionable to snuff out the life of a person while in a vulnerable, helpless state, who has no way of defending him/herself against the horrors of death by abortion. Truly, we as a society need to come to our senses and shift our perspective back to where it should be.
The arrival of a baby has so much potential to make a positive impact on our world. We need to exert the effort to ensure that every child can have a chance at life, and give support to the parents who feel like they can't do it themselves. We need to stand up for the unborn and protect them against the idea that somehow they don't matter. When we care for the most helpless and vulnerable, I'm sure it will have a ripple effect in helping us care about all other people on Earth who are in need.
I realize how fitting it is that this coming Sunday is the March for Life Chicago. It's a great opportunity to take a stand for life, as I personally remember the impact of the great news of Sunny Greenberg's birth.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Sunday, January 7, 2018
AMS in Austin, Full Circle 5 Years Later
Thousands of individuals in the meteorology community are converging in Austin, TX, this week for the 98th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), including forecasters, government administrators, professors, and students. They are in Austin to attend presentations on the latest studies in the science, recent weather events of note, and the implications of it all. There are other discussions as part of this meeting, and plenty of opportunities to make connections with others in the field.
The meeting this week makes me think back 5 years ago to when I attended the 93rd Annual Meeting of the AMS, which was also in Austin, TX. It was during my senior year of studies at Valparaiso University, right before I began my 2nd semester.
I had been to meteorology conferences before, namely the Great Lakes Meteorology Conferences, sponsored by ValpU's AMS Chapter. These conferences brought in a number of great speakers discussing a variety of topics in the field about careers and latest research for the attendees, mostly ValpU meteorology students, but also a handful from Central Michigan University.
The AMS Meeting was the first time I had ever attended a larger conference for a professional organization. It was a valuable experience in helping acquaint me with what it's like to be a professional in meteorology, giving me a sense of where I was headed with all the efforts I had exerted to my studies in classes at school, not to mention all that a conference can offer. Certainly, the conference helped broaden my horizons, much as going to Texas for the first time did.
I arrived in Austin onboard Amtrak's Texas Eagle route on Friday, January 4. The next day, Saturday, I went to the Austin Convention Center for the first day of the Student Conference, which takes place before the main meeting starts.
It focuses on content relevant for students, including presentations on careers and graduate school, as well as a chance to mingle with professionals and fellow meteorology students. There were about 11 of us ValpU students there, and later, some of the meteorology staff came to the main conference as well. Two schools with the largest groups of students in attendance were Pennsylvania State University and the University of Oklahoma, with a total attendance at the conference of about 600 students.
One emphasis from the speakers at the conference using the conference as a way to meet people and make connections. When lunch came on Saturday, I decided to break away from the ValpU group and I randomly sat with some students from the University of North Carolina, and I enjoyed getting to know them.
The student conference had some presentations before the large group. In one memorable presentation, the speaker started by driving a force-body diagram, which made me immediately think back to physics class a couple of years before. He then talked about a criminal investigation in Indonesia, and the thought process used to uncover what happened. He then connected that to physics problems, to suggest a thought process we can use in our work.
There was also a point in the student conference when we went around to various rooms to hear from various professionals about the work they do. One person was a woman who served as a meteorologist for the state of Florida--she said that sometimes she was like the Governor's meteorologist because he signed her checks. I also met a great person named Mike Mogil, who worked for a time in the National Weather Service (NWS), and then started a consulting business, How the Weather Works.
There were panel discussions, too. At one point, we rotated around to different rooms to hear from panelists who worked in the different sectors of private firms, government agencies, and in the academic setting. There were also panel discussions before the whole conference group.
At the end of day one of the student conference, we had the chance to talk with graduate schools and meteorology employers at the career fair. There was also a poster session, and dinner of fajitas.
The student conference continued the next day on Sunday in the morning. It wrapped up right about noontime, after which I joined with some of my fellow ValpU for lunch at a nearby Tex-Mex place. Then, I went back to the room where we had been meeting to attend a special presentation on meteorology in the energy sector, which included a role-play scenario for determining energy usage given certain weather conditions.
Later that day was a town hall forum as a way to kickstart the conference, in a large ballroom space. It featured a conversation with oil businessman T. Boone Pickens, who shared about his life experiences. Notably, the person doing the interview decided to introduce us, the conference attendees, to Mr. Pickens.
The next morning, Monday, was the President's Town Hall Forum in the same ballroom space as before, which included some speakers on weather modeling. Before they spoke, a representative of the mayor of Austin came to offer an official welcome from the city to the conference attendees.
Later, in the evening, was a town hall forum with a panel on the Superstorm Sandy that had occurred in late October 2012. One focus in the discussions was on how to adequately communicate the situation to the public, which was unique with Sandy because right before it made landfall, it lost its tropical characteristics, becoming a general midlatitude cyclone system like most weather systems on land, but was unleashing destructive power just like when it was a hurricane. There were also some panelists who talked about how journalists and social media covered the Sandy storm, including Jason Samenow, weather journalist for The Washington Post. At the end, during Q&A, I went up to the microphone and asked a question that had been on my mind since I saw a NOVA program about Sandy the November before. I asked about the relationship between global warming and Sandy's destructive effects. One of the panelists--and I believe it was Dr. Louis Uccellini, gave an answer that seemed to cast doubt on a direct correlation.
Over the next couple of days, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I attended more presentations, which included public health response to extreme weather situations, like intense heat waves, and a series of presentations on notable extreme weather events. I had many to choose from, as I could tell from glancing at the conference program online as I planned out my schedule before going, and then as I glanced through the program book while there. Two of my professors spoke at a presentation on teaching meteorology at the college level, which I attended along with a couple of fellow students. It was interesting to hear my professors talk about how they teach, and how students respond, and then to hear questions from audience directed to us, which was a small group, since that presentation was broken into different sections of the room, each with its own speaker. I also attended a weather briefing by staff at the local NWS Office in New Braunfels, TX. Because they committed error in their forecast from the day before, they handed out candy to those in attendance.
I also spent time looking around at the exhibits. One really cool exhibit featured a globe projecting 3D data, not just about weather, but even a 24-hour display of flight patterns throughout the world (please see picture below).
The Doppler-on-Wheels was also present, with scientists who had participated in the VORTEX 2 study of severe storms and tornadoes in 2010. (This was my second time seeing the DOW--the first being at the Museum of Science and Industry during the opening weekend for the OMNIMAX film Tornado Alley, which focused on the VORTEX 2 project.)
I also took advantage of the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with the AMS President, who at the time was Dr. Louis Uccellini, then serving as the Director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, the government agency overseeing several computer weather models and other centers focused on forecasting specific areas related to flooding, tropical systems, and severe storms. I also met some other big names, including Rick Knabb, then director of the National Hurricane Center, and Russ Schneider, who is the director of the Storm Prediction Center. I also hob-knobbed with TV meteorologists, meteorology professors, and other people from the NWS and NOAA. I also had the chance to visit with fellow ValpU students, professors, and alumni over a Tex-Mex buffet lunch, as the Department of Geography and Meteorology typically hosts a lunch for meteorology students, staff, and alumni attending the AMS Meeting. (That was one of many instances in which I ate well at the conference, which included snacks, appetizers, breakfast treats, and the awards banquet toward the end of the conference days.)
I look back at where I am now, and recognize the value of attending professional conferences as a chance to hear about what's happening in the field currently, meet people who are making notable achievements, and make connections, which I've been able to do at subsequent conferences, especially as I engage with the field of library and information science. I'm glad I got a good start with attending the 2013 AMS Meeting: It was there that I got a stronger sense of what the field of meteorology is all about, and helped give me a push toward focusing on landing a job. It was certainly a good dose of reality, at times intimidating and exhilarating.
One major takeaway from my experience was when, at the career fair, I met someone from the group Atmospheric Science Librarians International, an encounter that gave me the idea of becoming a librarian, thereby combining my interests. While at that point in time, the focus in my career path seemed to be on being a weather forecaster, I felt myself gravitating toward applying my meteorology background in a particular direction, and I liked the idea of librarianship because I could be part of helping people doing research in meteorology, since there's so much research happening.
Indeed, another takeaway was the implications of meteorology. While it's fascinating to study and observe the weather, meteorology professionals ultimately exert the effort because they recognize weather impacts everyone and all aspects of society. That's why there are so many social science-related discussions at conferences like these--and I certainly got in on them even more so when I attended the National Weather Association conference in October 2013 in North Charleston, SC.
At the student conference, I felt something stir inside of me as I listened to the panel presentations, the part of me that was influenced by my humanities-based studies in Christ College. During a time of questions and answers, I got up before the approximately 600 attendees and asked a panel of scientists, "What aspect of your work puts you most in tune with what it means to be human?" (Someone nearby the microphone muttered, "Now we're getting to the metaphysics of things." I had a nice chat with him a few minutes later when the session ended, drawing on some of my philosophical understandings.)
I got two great answers to my question. Someone remarked how her child plays with a ball to discover how it behaves when dropped, etc., and she said we all have this internal drive to investigate how scientific principles work. Another response focused on the human factor in severe weather events, how it impacts people's lives and their communities.
Later, over lunch, one of my classmates remarked how I had asked a deep question during that Q&A. Even if the speakers might have been struck by my question, they gave great answers.
Indeed, this conference broadened my horizons about what's going on in the world, as I sought to take my place in it and make my contribution.
The meeting this week makes me think back 5 years ago to when I attended the 93rd Annual Meeting of the AMS, which was also in Austin, TX. It was during my senior year of studies at Valparaiso University, right before I began my 2nd semester.
 |
| A meeting poster displayed at one of the entrance to the Convention Center in Austin |
I had been to meteorology conferences before, namely the Great Lakes Meteorology Conferences, sponsored by ValpU's AMS Chapter. These conferences brought in a number of great speakers discussing a variety of topics in the field about careers and latest research for the attendees, mostly ValpU meteorology students, but also a handful from Central Michigan University.
The AMS Meeting was the first time I had ever attended a larger conference for a professional organization. It was a valuable experience in helping acquaint me with what it's like to be a professional in meteorology, giving me a sense of where I was headed with all the efforts I had exerted to my studies in classes at school, not to mention all that a conference can offer. Certainly, the conference helped broaden my horizons, much as going to Texas for the first time did.
I arrived in Austin onboard Amtrak's Texas Eagle route on Friday, January 4. The next day, Saturday, I went to the Austin Convention Center for the first day of the Student Conference, which takes place before the main meeting starts.
 |
| Inside the conference |
It focuses on content relevant for students, including presentations on careers and graduate school, as well as a chance to mingle with professionals and fellow meteorology students. There were about 11 of us ValpU students there, and later, some of the meteorology staff came to the main conference as well. Two schools with the largest groups of students in attendance were Pennsylvania State University and the University of Oklahoma, with a total attendance at the conference of about 600 students.
One emphasis from the speakers at the conference using the conference as a way to meet people and make connections. When lunch came on Saturday, I decided to break away from the ValpU group and I randomly sat with some students from the University of North Carolina, and I enjoyed getting to know them.
The student conference had some presentations before the large group. In one memorable presentation, the speaker started by driving a force-body diagram, which made me immediately think back to physics class a couple of years before. He then talked about a criminal investigation in Indonesia, and the thought process used to uncover what happened. He then connected that to physics problems, to suggest a thought process we can use in our work.
There was also a point in the student conference when we went around to various rooms to hear from various professionals about the work they do. One person was a woman who served as a meteorologist for the state of Florida--she said that sometimes she was like the Governor's meteorologist because he signed her checks. I also met a great person named Mike Mogil, who worked for a time in the National Weather Service (NWS), and then started a consulting business, How the Weather Works.
There were panel discussions, too. At one point, we rotated around to different rooms to hear from panelists who worked in the different sectors of private firms, government agencies, and in the academic setting. There were also panel discussions before the whole conference group.
At the end of day one of the student conference, we had the chance to talk with graduate schools and meteorology employers at the career fair. There was also a poster session, and dinner of fajitas.
 |
| Poster for the ValpU-based AMS Chapter in the exhibit hall |
The student conference continued the next day on Sunday in the morning. It wrapped up right about noontime, after which I joined with some of my fellow ValpU for lunch at a nearby Tex-Mex place. Then, I went back to the room where we had been meeting to attend a special presentation on meteorology in the energy sector, which included a role-play scenario for determining energy usage given certain weather conditions.
Later that day was a town hall forum as a way to kickstart the conference, in a large ballroom space. It featured a conversation with oil businessman T. Boone Pickens, who shared about his life experiences. Notably, the person doing the interview decided to introduce us, the conference attendees, to Mr. Pickens.
The next morning, Monday, was the President's Town Hall Forum in the same ballroom space as before, which included some speakers on weather modeling. Before they spoke, a representative of the mayor of Austin came to offer an official welcome from the city to the conference attendees.
Later, in the evening, was a town hall forum with a panel on the Superstorm Sandy that had occurred in late October 2012. One focus in the discussions was on how to adequately communicate the situation to the public, which was unique with Sandy because right before it made landfall, it lost its tropical characteristics, becoming a general midlatitude cyclone system like most weather systems on land, but was unleashing destructive power just like when it was a hurricane. There were also some panelists who talked about how journalists and social media covered the Sandy storm, including Jason Samenow, weather journalist for The Washington Post. At the end, during Q&A, I went up to the microphone and asked a question that had been on my mind since I saw a NOVA program about Sandy the November before. I asked about the relationship between global warming and Sandy's destructive effects. One of the panelists--and I believe it was Dr. Louis Uccellini, gave an answer that seemed to cast doubt on a direct correlation.
Over the next couple of days, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I attended more presentations, which included public health response to extreme weather situations, like intense heat waves, and a series of presentations on notable extreme weather events. I had many to choose from, as I could tell from glancing at the conference program online as I planned out my schedule before going, and then as I glanced through the program book while there. Two of my professors spoke at a presentation on teaching meteorology at the college level, which I attended along with a couple of fellow students. It was interesting to hear my professors talk about how they teach, and how students respond, and then to hear questions from audience directed to us, which was a small group, since that presentation was broken into different sections of the room, each with its own speaker. I also attended a weather briefing by staff at the local NWS Office in New Braunfels, TX. Because they committed error in their forecast from the day before, they handed out candy to those in attendance.
I also spent time looking around at the exhibits. One really cool exhibit featured a globe projecting 3D data, not just about weather, but even a 24-hour display of flight patterns throughout the world (please see picture below).
The Doppler-on-Wheels was also present, with scientists who had participated in the VORTEX 2 study of severe storms and tornadoes in 2010. (This was my second time seeing the DOW--the first being at the Museum of Science and Industry during the opening weekend for the OMNIMAX film Tornado Alley, which focused on the VORTEX 2 project.)
 |
| One of the scientists got this picture of me by the DOW. |
I also took advantage of the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with the AMS President, who at the time was Dr. Louis Uccellini, then serving as the Director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, the government agency overseeing several computer weather models and other centers focused on forecasting specific areas related to flooding, tropical systems, and severe storms. I also met some other big names, including Rick Knabb, then director of the National Hurricane Center, and Russ Schneider, who is the director of the Storm Prediction Center. I also hob-knobbed with TV meteorologists, meteorology professors, and other people from the NWS and NOAA. I also had the chance to visit with fellow ValpU students, professors, and alumni over a Tex-Mex buffet lunch, as the Department of Geography and Meteorology typically hosts a lunch for meteorology students, staff, and alumni attending the AMS Meeting. (That was one of many instances in which I ate well at the conference, which included snacks, appetizers, breakfast treats, and the awards banquet toward the end of the conference days.)
I look back at where I am now, and recognize the value of attending professional conferences as a chance to hear about what's happening in the field currently, meet people who are making notable achievements, and make connections, which I've been able to do at subsequent conferences, especially as I engage with the field of library and information science. I'm glad I got a good start with attending the 2013 AMS Meeting: It was there that I got a stronger sense of what the field of meteorology is all about, and helped give me a push toward focusing on landing a job. It was certainly a good dose of reality, at times intimidating and exhilarating.
One major takeaway from my experience was when, at the career fair, I met someone from the group Atmospheric Science Librarians International, an encounter that gave me the idea of becoming a librarian, thereby combining my interests. While at that point in time, the focus in my career path seemed to be on being a weather forecaster, I felt myself gravitating toward applying my meteorology background in a particular direction, and I liked the idea of librarianship because I could be part of helping people doing research in meteorology, since there's so much research happening.
Indeed, another takeaway was the implications of meteorology. While it's fascinating to study and observe the weather, meteorology professionals ultimately exert the effort because they recognize weather impacts everyone and all aspects of society. That's why there are so many social science-related discussions at conferences like these--and I certainly got in on them even more so when I attended the National Weather Association conference in October 2013 in North Charleston, SC.
At the student conference, I felt something stir inside of me as I listened to the panel presentations, the part of me that was influenced by my humanities-based studies in Christ College. During a time of questions and answers, I got up before the approximately 600 attendees and asked a panel of scientists, "What aspect of your work puts you most in tune with what it means to be human?" (Someone nearby the microphone muttered, "Now we're getting to the metaphysics of things." I had a nice chat with him a few minutes later when the session ended, drawing on some of my philosophical understandings.)
I got two great answers to my question. Someone remarked how her child plays with a ball to discover how it behaves when dropped, etc., and she said we all have this internal drive to investigate how scientific principles work. Another response focused on the human factor in severe weather events, how it impacts people's lives and their communities.
Later, over lunch, one of my classmates remarked how I had asked a deep question during that Q&A. Even if the speakers might have been struck by my question, they gave great answers.
Indeed, this conference broadened my horizons about what's going on in the world, as I sought to take my place in it and make my contribution.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Gifts 2017, Reflecting in the Spirit of the Magi
This time of year celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord makes me think of Father Larry McNally, currently St. Matthias pastor, and formerly Ascension pastor.
In his Epiphany Sunday homily, he would compare certain gifts he had received with the significance of the Magi's gifts to the Christ Child.
The gold was given to acclaim Jesus as King. The frankincense recognizes that He is a Priest, with the purpose (or vocation) of bringing us to God. The myrrh honors the sacrifice Jesus made in His humanity for the sin of all people.
I use symbols to reflect on some of the gifts I gave and received for the occasion of the Nativity of the Lord.
Gifts I gave
Gold: I gave my sister-in-law Naomi some Hawaiian coffee from Trader Joe's, since she and my brother Eric had that when they went to Hawaii a year ago. I was very pleased with the coffee selection at Trader Joe's.
Incense: I was at Bed Bath and Beyond with my parents, and my Mom noticed a special circular knife there and remarked how nice of a tool it was. That gave me a great idea, so while she was elsewhere in the store, I bought it.
Myrrh: There's a woman I've gotten to know very well at Ascension, especially by being fellow Religious Education catechist-teachers. To return the favor of a gift she gave me, I gave her gift money to the Sugar Beet, a co-op store in Oak Park with a lot of goods from farms. It was the winner of Rubicon Global's "Best Small Business in America" contest. There are a lot of wonderful things to buy there, and I'm glad to support this business because it helps support sustainability--and I'm making it #4 on my list to celebrate Illinois's 200th year of statehood.
Gifts I received
Gold: Abuela gave me some tasty waffle cookies.
Incense: I received many wonderful gifts from my RE students. One that stands out in a special way in a jumbo-sized mug with an artistic map of Illinois printed on two sides of it. I've enjoyed using it for eating oatmeal on all these cold mornings we've been having the past couple of weeks, as I am reminded of the wonderful ways I've connected with those to whom I pass on the faith. Another gift was a glass ornament from Pier One Imports.
Myrrh: My parents gave me a new pillow for sleeping on. I saw a coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond, which caused me to remark in my Mom's presence that I could go there to get a new pillow. Clearly, that planted an idea in her head.
Epiphany is also a time for a house blessing, with the following symbols marked out:
It is in this place I have experienced the love that abounds in relationships, and truly this place I call home is a gift.
God first showed us what love means by coming to Earth as the baby Jesus, Who furthermore showed us how to express love within the context of relationships, especially family relationships. That is what truly gives these gifts, and all the others I received, their extraordinary meaning. Just as the adage says, "Home is where the heart is," so I have experienced the heart of God in gift-giving and the love that infuses it.
In his Epiphany Sunday homily, he would compare certain gifts he had received with the significance of the Magi's gifts to the Christ Child.
The gold was given to acclaim Jesus as King. The frankincense recognizes that He is a Priest, with the purpose (or vocation) of bringing us to God. The myrrh honors the sacrifice Jesus made in His humanity for the sin of all people.
I use symbols to reflect on some of the gifts I gave and received for the occasion of the Nativity of the Lord.
Gifts I gave
Gold: I gave my sister-in-law Naomi some Hawaiian coffee from Trader Joe's, since she and my brother Eric had that when they went to Hawaii a year ago. I was very pleased with the coffee selection at Trader Joe's.
Incense: I was at Bed Bath and Beyond with my parents, and my Mom noticed a special circular knife there and remarked how nice of a tool it was. That gave me a great idea, so while she was elsewhere in the store, I bought it.
Myrrh: There's a woman I've gotten to know very well at Ascension, especially by being fellow Religious Education catechist-teachers. To return the favor of a gift she gave me, I gave her gift money to the Sugar Beet, a co-op store in Oak Park with a lot of goods from farms. It was the winner of Rubicon Global's "Best Small Business in America" contest. There are a lot of wonderful things to buy there, and I'm glad to support this business because it helps support sustainability--and I'm making it #4 on my list to celebrate Illinois's 200th year of statehood.
Gifts I received
Gold: Abuela gave me some tasty waffle cookies.
Incense: I received many wonderful gifts from my RE students. One that stands out in a special way in a jumbo-sized mug with an artistic map of Illinois printed on two sides of it. I've enjoyed using it for eating oatmeal on all these cold mornings we've been having the past couple of weeks, as I am reminded of the wonderful ways I've connected with those to whom I pass on the faith. Another gift was a glass ornament from Pier One Imports.
Myrrh: My parents gave me a new pillow for sleeping on. I saw a coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond, which caused me to remark in my Mom's presence that I could go there to get a new pillow. Clearly, that planted an idea in her head.
Epiphany is also a time for a house blessing, with the following symbols marked out:
20+C+M+B+18
How fitting it is to offer a prayer of house blessing following on the heels of the recent anniversary of my quarter-century here in Oak Park. |
| Mom took this picture of me enjoying some Brown Cow ice cream on a very mild December evening at home, before the Arctic cold spell hit. |
It is in this place I have experienced the love that abounds in relationships, and truly this place I call home is a gift.
God first showed us what love means by coming to Earth as the baby Jesus, Who furthermore showed us how to express love within the context of relationships, especially family relationships. That is what truly gives these gifts, and all the others I received, their extraordinary meaning. Just as the adage says, "Home is where the heart is," so I have experienced the heart of God in gift-giving and the love that infuses it.
Monday, January 1, 2018
The Grapes of Anticipation 2018
It's time to fill up another blank slate that we've been handed on this New Year's Day 2018. And so like I did with the year that past, I shall use the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes for the New Year's occasion to reflect on what I'm anticipating for 2018.
Grape #1, the Bicentennial of Illinois: This occasion will be a great opportunity to celebrate the state of Illinois and the great aspects it entails, and even participating in festivities.
Grape #2, the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang: I'm really looking forward to see the world come together for spirited competition, and to see the show put on by South Koreans.
Grape #3, milestone birthdays in the family: From what I can tell, there are 4 of them happening this year in my family.
Grape #4, Greg and Melissa's 10-year anniversary: The first wedding I ever attended was for my cousin Greg and his wife Melissa, and the joyful occasion left an indelible impression on me. I will mark their special occasion with great joy.
Grape #5, Dan and Ann Ruggaber's Golden Wedding Anniversary: Dan and Ann have been a very special part of my life, and that's why I will joyfully mark the occasion.
Grape #6, the 5-year anniversary of my graduation from Valparaiso University: It will be a good opportunity to reflect on the great impact those 4 years in my life had, and to mark 5 years for this blog. There are some other notable 5-year anniversaries I will mark of events that happened during my senior year, like my trips to Austin, TX, and St. Augustine Mission in Nebraska.
Grape #7, Victoria Season 2: I enjoyed watching Season 1 last year, and I look forward to tuning in on Sunday nights, starting in less than 2 weeks, to see the story of Queen Victoria's life unfold some more.
Grape #8, the 2018 election cycle: I look forward to engaging in the democratic process of the republic by casting my vote in the primary and general elections, and preparing my selections for my ballots.
Grape #9, the Centennial of the World War I Armistice: It will be good to reflect on the event that ended World War I as a way of continuing to assess its impact on history, as we have throughout the past few years since the Centennial of that war's start.
Grape #10, continued professional opportunities: I had some significant opportunities for advancement in my career this year, and I hope to have some more meaningful opportunities to come.
Grape #11, the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment: I look forward to hearing about what will come out of this synod focusing on empowering young people, as World Youth Day 2019 will come just a couple of months after it.
Grape #12, continued involvement in Religious Education: Greater things happen as I have continued my involvement, things I couldn't have imagined before. Certainly, as an 8th grader in the program myself, I never imagined myself being back to teach, and what an adventure in faith it has been that has so enriched my sense of life.
While I may not know what will happen in life, as I said before, I know by faith that God is real, and so I go forth to take hold of confidence in His presence, that all my experiences this year may be means of knowing His graces more fully.
Grape #1, the Bicentennial of Illinois: This occasion will be a great opportunity to celebrate the state of Illinois and the great aspects it entails, and even participating in festivities.
Grape #2, the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang: I'm really looking forward to see the world come together for spirited competition, and to see the show put on by South Koreans.
Grape #3, milestone birthdays in the family: From what I can tell, there are 4 of them happening this year in my family.
Grape #4, Greg and Melissa's 10-year anniversary: The first wedding I ever attended was for my cousin Greg and his wife Melissa, and the joyful occasion left an indelible impression on me. I will mark their special occasion with great joy.
Grape #5, Dan and Ann Ruggaber's Golden Wedding Anniversary: Dan and Ann have been a very special part of my life, and that's why I will joyfully mark the occasion.
Grape #6, the 5-year anniversary of my graduation from Valparaiso University: It will be a good opportunity to reflect on the great impact those 4 years in my life had, and to mark 5 years for this blog. There are some other notable 5-year anniversaries I will mark of events that happened during my senior year, like my trips to Austin, TX, and St. Augustine Mission in Nebraska.
Grape #7, Victoria Season 2: I enjoyed watching Season 1 last year, and I look forward to tuning in on Sunday nights, starting in less than 2 weeks, to see the story of Queen Victoria's life unfold some more.
Grape #8, the 2018 election cycle: I look forward to engaging in the democratic process of the republic by casting my vote in the primary and general elections, and preparing my selections for my ballots.
Grape #9, the Centennial of the World War I Armistice: It will be good to reflect on the event that ended World War I as a way of continuing to assess its impact on history, as we have throughout the past few years since the Centennial of that war's start.
Grape #10, continued professional opportunities: I had some significant opportunities for advancement in my career this year, and I hope to have some more meaningful opportunities to come.
Grape #11, the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment: I look forward to hearing about what will come out of this synod focusing on empowering young people, as World Youth Day 2019 will come just a couple of months after it.
Grape #12, continued involvement in Religious Education: Greater things happen as I have continued my involvement, things I couldn't have imagined before. Certainly, as an 8th grader in the program myself, I never imagined myself being back to teach, and what an adventure in faith it has been that has so enriched my sense of life.
While I may not know what will happen in life, as I said before, I know by faith that God is real, and so I go forth to take hold of confidence in His presence, that all my experiences this year may be means of knowing His graces more fully.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
The Grapes of Reflection 2017
The blank slate that was 2017 on New Year's Day is now pretty well filled on this New Year's Eve.
And so once again I shall use the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of New Year's as a guide to reflect on what happened in my life in 2017. While certainly not an exhaustive list, it covers a lot of ground in regards to the major highlights.
Grape #1, trip to Florida: Certainly it was wonderful escaping to warm and sunny conditions evocative of summer there. But it was also great being at the celebration of the marriage of my brother Eric and sister-in-law Naomi, and meeting her family. I also enjoyed visiting with Linda, and just soaking what Florida has to offer along the Atlantic Coast. And it was one of three trips by train this year.
Grape #2, trip to North Myrtle Beach, SC: I had a fine time being with my extended family to celebrate my Abuela' turning 80. And it was the second of three trips by train.
Grape # 3, my trip to the Pacific Northwest: What an action-packed adventure I had, soaking in the sights along the route of the Empire Builder, Seattle and Washington; Vancouver, BC; and Oregon, not to mention a fabulous time visiting with Roy. With this trip following on the heels of my South Carolina trip, I was able to experience the country literally from coast to coast within a matter of days, with my first visit to the Pacific Ocean. It stirred in me a greater enamorment for my country. It was also so fitting to visit Canada in the year when it marked the 150th Anniversary since the British North America Act took effect--and I joined in the celebration on July 1 by attending a concert at Millennium Park featuring the Canadian Brass. Going to Canada was also the first chance I had to use my US passport, which I got for the first time this year. And by riding the Empire Builder to the Pacific Northwest, I reconnected with a great trip by train my family had 20 years ago. (And all three of these trips gave me a chance to send out postcards, as a way to share the trip with family and friends.)
Grape #4, being a train engineer: After having enjoyed train rides so much, especially with three of them in the first half of 2017, I had a thrilling time getting in an engine and learning how to operate it during a visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.
Grape #5, returning to Valparaiso University for the Christ College Golden Anniversary celebration: There's a certain kind of special feeling that swells inside me when I go back to this place that had a significant role in my life, and I certainly felt it when I was there on September 30 to celebrate a remarkable part of the university community. It reminded me of why Christ College was a special part of my college experience, as I engaged thoughtfully in discussions of what it means to be human.
Grape #6, serving as an election judge in local elections: I had a great time serving my community and interacting with local citizens participating in the democratic process of the republic, this time around as it pertained to our local area.
Grape #7, working with volunteers at the Oak Park Public Library: I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the volunteers doing shelf reading/organizing at the library, because being a library volunteer as a teen was a great way I got involved in the community. I started working with the volunteers as a paid staff person back during the summer, and it came as part of a promotion that I received in the department. Following it came the opportunity to do work at the Chicago NERA office before starting full-time work at the Orland Park Public Library just a little over a month ago.
Grape #8, the ALA Conference in Chicago: One highlight was attending a session where teens offered feedback on books nominated for an award for teen books, including teens who were part of the volunteer program the Oak Park Public Library. Another highlight was attending Ron Chernow's presentation, and then getting the chance, after a long wait in line, to get his autograph on an advance copy of his Grant biography, as well as the Hamilton biography I got as a gift from Eric and Naomi on Nativity Day 2016. (This conference made headlines when Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker at the closing session, as she extolled the importance of libraries in our US society.)
Grape #9, the birth of my cousin Micah: It was exciting to welcome in another member of the family, and it was especially beautiful meeting him on the Eve of the Nativity just a week ago when his lovely family came to the family dinner we were having.
Grape #10, marking 25 years in Oak Park: My home is so dear to me, and it was with great delight I celebrated this special milestone anniversary. And how fitting it was that in this calendar year I got to visit the new OPRF History Museum that opened in the summer after extensive work lasting over two years to rehabilitate the space it now occupies. It's an impressive place to see after having stopped by to view the progress at various intervals. The new museum helps me get a better sense of what this place is that I have called home for a quarter-century.
Grape #11, making notable speeches: Upon hearing that Mr. Gates, my former 7th grade language arts teacher and once president of the District 97 board of education, decided not to seek another term, I made it my business to attend a board meeting and speak during the public comment period to offer tribute to his contributions to District 97 as a teacher and as board president. In May, at a Mass to mark the conclusion of the Religious Education year, Diane Moriarty, the Ascension Director of RE, had me give a speech for my students. The way it turned out, I felt like it was a pretty epic speech as I offered my students some final words of encouragement. And given the nature of the task before me, I felt like it was one of the most important speeches of my life.
Grape #12, my continued involvement with Religious Education: I realize I mention this each time I write my grapes of reflection post, and I'm delighted to say that I have something new and wonderful to share each time. I was delighted to spend time with the 8th graders in the 2016-17 RE year that I started with in 2015 when they were in 7th grade. And now, in the 2017-18 year, I continue teaching 8th grade with another set of amazing students. I've made some very strong connections with my students, especially in the time I spent with them at a post-Confirmation retreat in March with the 2016 group, and then with the 2017 group at the 2nd annual Holy Fire, and then a week later, the great celebration of their Confirmation. And I reinforced those connections attending plays at Brooks Middle School, which featured some of my students. Seeing The Lion King was a true highlight because it is a great story with such profound insights. The Little Mermaid was excellent, too, and reconnected me with a college class in which we watched the Disney movie version of that story and then discussed it.
My involvement with teaching Religious Education underscores how faith is such an important part of my life, and how vibrant my faith continues to be, like it was nearly 4 1/2 years ago when I graduated from ValpU, where it was rekindled anew. Somehow, even with all the challenges and difficulties I've faced, my faith still remains vibrant as ever, and overall helps me upkeep a positive outlook on life. And it's why I come to the end of this year with an upbeat view of the year as a whole, like I typically do when I reach New Year's Eve. It makes me think of the musical Hamilton, in which the characters sing about how lucky they are to be alive--I was fortunate to attend that musical with my Grandma and see the history of the early United States come alive on stage. I know I'm blessed because, by faith, I know God is real, active in my life.
And I've reached new frontiers in faith life, with my first time attending Mass outside the United States at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, and a new record for the earliest I've ever attended Mass, at about 6:10 in the morning at St. Mary of Celle in Berwyn on the Feast day of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on December 12.
All of this takes place, and is enriched by, the context of community and relationships. Indeed, Mass is all about our coming together as the Body of Christ to be strengthened and renewed by an encounter with His presence, so we can make His presence known in the world. I extended the sense of community beyond the weekends to Monday evening gatherings with a faith-sharing group during the weeks of Lent with an awesome group of people. We had some great discussions about the Gospel readings, and the life of faith itself. And Ascension Parish celebrated the power of coming together as one in prayer marking 25 years of monthly Taize Prayer Services. It was also very meaningful to see Roman Catholics and Lutherans come together for dialogue and prayer in commemorating 500 years since the 95 Theses. Attending a panel discussion for this occasion at Concordia University Chicago was definitely a highlight of this year.
This idea of the impact of joining together as the Body of Christ is what I have been seeking to impart to my RE students, especially as I did in class the week before Confirmation. I played for them "I Believe", a song written for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with an English version sung by Nikki Yanofsky. (Her image appears around 1:58 in the video. Please feel free to view this one or either of the other two versions below.)
It appears it was performed at the closing ceremony of 2010 Olympics, but I don't remember it, so it was like encountering it for the first time when I stumbled upon it over the summer, and I quickly became obsessed with it. As I listened to it, I knew that the lyrics spoke volumes to the life of faith. Sometimes we tread a path that's lonely, and seems to counter everything the world tells us. But God wills us to be the best for His Glory. And great power is unleashed when we come together as one, as the one body of Christ, "the power of you and I"--and yes, I recognize the song's lyrics are grammatically incorrect, but Nikki sure makes it sound great. This power is like "an invincible force", which is the French version of the song, performed by Annie Villeneuve. I told my students that the Holy Spirit is "an invincible force" within them, and with it, "nothing can stop them", so that they can make not just the world proud, but make God proud.
Around the time when I was in transition between jobs back in November, I stumbled upon a bilingual version sung by the Utah-based One Voice youth choir. This performance of it totally mesmerized me, and furthermore offered me great encouragement, in a way I can't fully explain.
The song also speaks to being the change we wish to see in the world, and standing tall for what's right, and standing tall as we make an impact.
Those lyrics offer a great vision for us as we go forth from 2017 into 2018, as we seek to make the world a better place, and do it together, because ultimately, life is enhanced by relationships, and the investments we make in them are ones that are long-lasting. In fact, all the experiences I shared in the 12 grapes above, as well as many other memorable happenings in 2017, all have to do with relationships.
So I end this year in gratitude that reaches even unto God for all those who were involved in making 2017 so special, who have demonstrated to me "the power of you and I."
And so once again I shall use the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes for the occasion of New Year's as a guide to reflect on what happened in my life in 2017. While certainly not an exhaustive list, it covers a lot of ground in regards to the major highlights.
Grape #1, trip to Florida: Certainly it was wonderful escaping to warm and sunny conditions evocative of summer there. But it was also great being at the celebration of the marriage of my brother Eric and sister-in-law Naomi, and meeting her family. I also enjoyed visiting with Linda, and just soaking what Florida has to offer along the Atlantic Coast. And it was one of three trips by train this year.
Grape #2, trip to North Myrtle Beach, SC: I had a fine time being with my extended family to celebrate my Abuela' turning 80. And it was the second of three trips by train.
Grape # 3, my trip to the Pacific Northwest: What an action-packed adventure I had, soaking in the sights along the route of the Empire Builder, Seattle and Washington; Vancouver, BC; and Oregon, not to mention a fabulous time visiting with Roy. With this trip following on the heels of my South Carolina trip, I was able to experience the country literally from coast to coast within a matter of days, with my first visit to the Pacific Ocean. It stirred in me a greater enamorment for my country. It was also so fitting to visit Canada in the year when it marked the 150th Anniversary since the British North America Act took effect--and I joined in the celebration on July 1 by attending a concert at Millennium Park featuring the Canadian Brass. Going to Canada was also the first chance I had to use my US passport, which I got for the first time this year. And by riding the Empire Builder to the Pacific Northwest, I reconnected with a great trip by train my family had 20 years ago. (And all three of these trips gave me a chance to send out postcards, as a way to share the trip with family and friends.)
Grape #4, being a train engineer: After having enjoyed train rides so much, especially with three of them in the first half of 2017, I had a thrilling time getting in an engine and learning how to operate it during a visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.
Grape #5, returning to Valparaiso University for the Christ College Golden Anniversary celebration: There's a certain kind of special feeling that swells inside me when I go back to this place that had a significant role in my life, and I certainly felt it when I was there on September 30 to celebrate a remarkable part of the university community. It reminded me of why Christ College was a special part of my college experience, as I engaged thoughtfully in discussions of what it means to be human.
Grape #6, serving as an election judge in local elections: I had a great time serving my community and interacting with local citizens participating in the democratic process of the republic, this time around as it pertained to our local area.
Grape #7, working with volunteers at the Oak Park Public Library: I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the volunteers doing shelf reading/organizing at the library, because being a library volunteer as a teen was a great way I got involved in the community. I started working with the volunteers as a paid staff person back during the summer, and it came as part of a promotion that I received in the department. Following it came the opportunity to do work at the Chicago NERA office before starting full-time work at the Orland Park Public Library just a little over a month ago.
Grape #8, the ALA Conference in Chicago: One highlight was attending a session where teens offered feedback on books nominated for an award for teen books, including teens who were part of the volunteer program the Oak Park Public Library. Another highlight was attending Ron Chernow's presentation, and then getting the chance, after a long wait in line, to get his autograph on an advance copy of his Grant biography, as well as the Hamilton biography I got as a gift from Eric and Naomi on Nativity Day 2016. (This conference made headlines when Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker at the closing session, as she extolled the importance of libraries in our US society.)
Grape #9, the birth of my cousin Micah: It was exciting to welcome in another member of the family, and it was especially beautiful meeting him on the Eve of the Nativity just a week ago when his lovely family came to the family dinner we were having.
Grape #10, marking 25 years in Oak Park: My home is so dear to me, and it was with great delight I celebrated this special milestone anniversary. And how fitting it was that in this calendar year I got to visit the new OPRF History Museum that opened in the summer after extensive work lasting over two years to rehabilitate the space it now occupies. It's an impressive place to see after having stopped by to view the progress at various intervals. The new museum helps me get a better sense of what this place is that I have called home for a quarter-century.
Grape #12, my continued involvement with Religious Education: I realize I mention this each time I write my grapes of reflection post, and I'm delighted to say that I have something new and wonderful to share each time. I was delighted to spend time with the 8th graders in the 2016-17 RE year that I started with in 2015 when they were in 7th grade. And now, in the 2017-18 year, I continue teaching 8th grade with another set of amazing students. I've made some very strong connections with my students, especially in the time I spent with them at a post-Confirmation retreat in March with the 2016 group, and then with the 2017 group at the 2nd annual Holy Fire, and then a week later, the great celebration of their Confirmation. And I reinforced those connections attending plays at Brooks Middle School, which featured some of my students. Seeing The Lion King was a true highlight because it is a great story with such profound insights. The Little Mermaid was excellent, too, and reconnected me with a college class in which we watched the Disney movie version of that story and then discussed it.
My involvement with teaching Religious Education underscores how faith is such an important part of my life, and how vibrant my faith continues to be, like it was nearly 4 1/2 years ago when I graduated from ValpU, where it was rekindled anew. Somehow, even with all the challenges and difficulties I've faced, my faith still remains vibrant as ever, and overall helps me upkeep a positive outlook on life. And it's why I come to the end of this year with an upbeat view of the year as a whole, like I typically do when I reach New Year's Eve. It makes me think of the musical Hamilton, in which the characters sing about how lucky they are to be alive--I was fortunate to attend that musical with my Grandma and see the history of the early United States come alive on stage. I know I'm blessed because, by faith, I know God is real, active in my life.
And I've reached new frontiers in faith life, with my first time attending Mass outside the United States at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, and a new record for the earliest I've ever attended Mass, at about 6:10 in the morning at St. Mary of Celle in Berwyn on the Feast day of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on December 12.
All of this takes place, and is enriched by, the context of community and relationships. Indeed, Mass is all about our coming together as the Body of Christ to be strengthened and renewed by an encounter with His presence, so we can make His presence known in the world. I extended the sense of community beyond the weekends to Monday evening gatherings with a faith-sharing group during the weeks of Lent with an awesome group of people. We had some great discussions about the Gospel readings, and the life of faith itself. And Ascension Parish celebrated the power of coming together as one in prayer marking 25 years of monthly Taize Prayer Services. It was also very meaningful to see Roman Catholics and Lutherans come together for dialogue and prayer in commemorating 500 years since the 95 Theses. Attending a panel discussion for this occasion at Concordia University Chicago was definitely a highlight of this year.
This idea of the impact of joining together as the Body of Christ is what I have been seeking to impart to my RE students, especially as I did in class the week before Confirmation. I played for them "I Believe", a song written for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with an English version sung by Nikki Yanofsky. (Her image appears around 1:58 in the video. Please feel free to view this one or either of the other two versions below.)
It appears it was performed at the closing ceremony of 2010 Olympics, but I don't remember it, so it was like encountering it for the first time when I stumbled upon it over the summer, and I quickly became obsessed with it. As I listened to it, I knew that the lyrics spoke volumes to the life of faith. Sometimes we tread a path that's lonely, and seems to counter everything the world tells us. But God wills us to be the best for His Glory. And great power is unleashed when we come together as one, as the one body of Christ, "the power of you and I"--and yes, I recognize the song's lyrics are grammatically incorrect, but Nikki sure makes it sound great. This power is like "an invincible force", which is the French version of the song, performed by Annie Villeneuve. I told my students that the Holy Spirit is "an invincible force" within them, and with it, "nothing can stop them", so that they can make not just the world proud, but make God proud.
Around the time when I was in transition between jobs back in November, I stumbled upon a bilingual version sung by the Utah-based One Voice youth choir. This performance of it totally mesmerized me, and furthermore offered me great encouragement, in a way I can't fully explain.
The song also speaks to being the change we wish to see in the world, and standing tall for what's right, and standing tall as we make an impact.
Those lyrics offer a great vision for us as we go forth from 2017 into 2018, as we seek to make the world a better place, and do it together, because ultimately, life is enhanced by relationships, and the investments we make in them are ones that are long-lasting. In fact, all the experiences I shared in the 12 grapes above, as well as many other memorable happenings in 2017, all have to do with relationships.
So I end this year in gratitude that reaches even unto God for all those who were involved in making 2017 so special, who have demonstrated to me "the power of you and I."
Saturday, December 30, 2017
2017 News and Events in Review
President Donald Trump did much to set a tone this year, from the day he was inaugurated back on January 20. He let loose a lot of charged statements while seeking to set a new course for US society, often in direct contrast to President Obama's stances, even making "fake news" a term tossed about all the time. He made some bold moves like recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing the Obama administration's directives on transgenderism and public facilities, and appointing the distinctly right-wing Neil Gorsuch as a US Supreme Court Associate Justice to take the seat vacated when Antonin Scalia passed away. The Supreme Court heard some cases on hot-button issues like the Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding. President Trump also issued some executive orders to address problems with immigration, with its implementation not going so smoothly. He also sparked a conversation about NFL players refusing to stand for the National Anthem, which spread throughout the country. Even here in Oak Park, some people took to the knee during the national anthem before football games at OPRF High School, and some OPRFHS District 200 board members did the same during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of their meetings.
Locally, there was lots of controversy over building highrise developments in Oak Park. There was also a good deal of conversation about two referenda that District 97 put on the ballot to ensure sufficient funds for operating and capital expenses, leading up to local elections on April 4. The Cook County Board of Commissioners also approved a tax on sugary beverages to shore up the budget, which caused a major outcry and eventually the Board repealed it.
There were several states that faced big problems approving a budget. Maine and New Jersey experienced state government shutdowns for a few days at the start of July. Washington avoided a shutdown with about 40 minutes to spare, after debate over how best to fund schools. Illinois finally broke past its long-lasting budget stalemate by approving a budget that raised state income taxes, overriding Governor Rauner's veto, a move that followed State Senator Christine Radogno's resignation, after remarking she did everything she could.
In September, Governor Rauner signed HB 40 into law, which provides taxpayer money to fund abortions in Illinois. There were efforts in Congress to rescind government funds for Planned Parenthood. Rallies were held throughout the United States in February, seizing the momentum with a Republican president now in office and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, as part of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, although it didn't result in any changes. There was greater success in passing tax reform.
Offering commentary on many of these issues was Stuart Shepard at Family Policy Alliance of Focus on the Family, including through his Stoplight videos. The final Stoplight video was posted at the end of November.
The Chicago PBS station WYCC also signed off the airwaves, which I wasn't aware of until several weeks after it happened. (Fortunately, we still have WTTW-PBS in Chicago, which continues to air fine programming, like the Ken Burns Vietnam War documentary.) Valparaiso University's Law School enrollment dropped so low that the school was shuttered.
Among those departing from their current line of work was Ms. Gullo, long-time Kindergarten teacher at Irving School. I am glad that I was among those whose lives she impacted at a young age over the years, through all the delights that Kindergarten involves.
Deacon Lendell Richardson bid farewell to Ascension Parish to take on a new asssignment as deacon at St. Bernardine Parish in Forest Park.
Lisa Madigan decided not to seek another term in office, as did US Representative Luis Gutierrez, who cited the reason of wanting to focus on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, which was hit hard by one of several destructive hurricanes that hit the United States.
In the midst of a very polarizing atmosphere, one event that united people was the August 21 total solar eclipse that crossed the United States from coast to coast. There was definitely a huge amount of hype, but certainly for good reason, because witnessing a total solar eclipse is pretty spectacular. People flocked to spots outside to view the eclipse, even in the Chicago area where only a partial eclipse could be viewed, and it was somewhat cloudy.
While I wasn't there that day, it was apparently a much busier day than usual at the Oak Park Public Library since it hosted a solar eclipse viewing event out in Scoville Park. The sorting and shelving team had an unusually large volume of materials being returned on the AMH. That machine was replaced in December, and it's a pretty swell machine that's now in place to handle the return and sorting of materials.
The Oak Park Public Library also took a significant step in making the library more accessible by instituting a fine-free policy. The library also hired a Multicultural Learning Librarian, Naomi Priddy, to oversee the recently-acquired Multicultural Collection, and expand opportunities for its use by a larger community of people in accessing its wealth of resources about cultures all over the world.
A new wealth of resources was opened to the public when the Bible Museum opened in Washington, D.C. Mississippi opened a Civil Rights Museum in celebration of its Bicentennial on December 10. Nebraska marked 150 years as a state back on March 1.
Dominican University marked 20 years since its name change from Rosary College, an anniversary that followed the name change of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science to the School of Infomation Studies, offering informatics studies in addition to the library information science studies.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops marked the centennial of its inception in the form of an organization focused on the war effort during World War I. It was 100 years ago that the US entered the conflict.
The world's attention will focus on the United States come 2028 when the Olympics come back to this country with Los Angeles as the host city, decided at an IOC meeting that made Paris the 2024 Summer Olympics host city. That gives us something to look ahead to, even as we wrap up 2017 and take on 2018.
And perhaps greater fruit will be born from the commemoration of 500 years since Martin Luther's 95 Theses, which brought opportunities for ecumenical dialogue and prayer, which we hope continue to bind the wound to Christ's body. Perhaps it will happen in the spirit that is exhibited by Taize prayer services, which marked an anniversary at Ascension Parish back in October, 25 years of gathering together as one body of people in Christ to praise our God, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
In September, Governor Rauner signed HB 40 into law, which provides taxpayer money to fund abortions in Illinois. There were efforts in Congress to rescind government funds for Planned Parenthood. Rallies were held throughout the United States in February, seizing the momentum with a Republican president now in office and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, as part of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, although it didn't result in any changes. There was greater success in passing tax reform.
Offering commentary on many of these issues was Stuart Shepard at Family Policy Alliance of Focus on the Family, including through his Stoplight videos. The final Stoplight video was posted at the end of November.
The Chicago PBS station WYCC also signed off the airwaves, which I wasn't aware of until several weeks after it happened. (Fortunately, we still have WTTW-PBS in Chicago, which continues to air fine programming, like the Ken Burns Vietnam War documentary.) Valparaiso University's Law School enrollment dropped so low that the school was shuttered.
Among those departing from their current line of work was Ms. Gullo, long-time Kindergarten teacher at Irving School. I am glad that I was among those whose lives she impacted at a young age over the years, through all the delights that Kindergarten involves.
Deacon Lendell Richardson bid farewell to Ascension Parish to take on a new asssignment as deacon at St. Bernardine Parish in Forest Park.
Lisa Madigan decided not to seek another term in office, as did US Representative Luis Gutierrez, who cited the reason of wanting to focus on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, which was hit hard by one of several destructive hurricanes that hit the United States.
Other major weather events that made headlines included wildfires and earthquakes in Mexico. There was also major flooding in the Chicago area during the summer, which started out quite hot, enough for me to feel it was worth the money to get a pool pass. The heat subsided in July and it never got quite as hot as it did during that string of days in June. But it certainly heated up for a stretch of days in September. Even November and the start of December featured some rather mild days, before a cold snap hit.
The winter at the beginning of the year started off rather cloudy throughout much of January. Then February followed with some spectacularly mild, and sunny, weather. All the while, there wasn't much snow, until a significant snow event in March.
It was also in March that there was a terrorist attack near the Houses of Parliament in London, which was not the only terrorist attack in the United Kingdom this year, including one that happened close to elections there in June.
There was great upheaval in Spain as efforts were launched to make Catalonia independent of Spain. And there was heated activity over issues of race, like in August when a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville lead to violence. There was also trouble with acts of ill will directed toward Jewish people.
Ill will was also shown toward a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Chicago-O'Hare Airport to Louisville, who was selected to vacate his seat for a crew member. Troubles also occurred when a power outage hit Atlanta's airport. This happened right around the time a terrible train derailment occurred on the Cascades route in Washington--something that hit home for me, because I rode that same route, and train number, back in May, although not on that stretch of track that was inaugurated that day. Another derailment occurred on the Cascades route during the summer.
Long-distance Amtrak train service was one of those services targeted for budget cuts by the Trump administration's budget proposal. That led to rallies to save train service.
There were also big rallies held throughout the months of 2017 as people vented their disapproval of Donald Trump, including a Women's March in Washington, D.C.
It was also in March that there was a terrorist attack near the Houses of Parliament in London, which was not the only terrorist attack in the United Kingdom this year, including one that happened close to elections there in June.
There was great upheaval in Spain as efforts were launched to make Catalonia independent of Spain. And there was heated activity over issues of race, like in August when a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville lead to violence. There was also trouble with acts of ill will directed toward Jewish people.
Ill will was also shown toward a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Chicago-O'Hare Airport to Louisville, who was selected to vacate his seat for a crew member. Troubles also occurred when a power outage hit Atlanta's airport. This happened right around the time a terrible train derailment occurred on the Cascades route in Washington--something that hit home for me, because I rode that same route, and train number, back in May, although not on that stretch of track that was inaugurated that day. Another derailment occurred on the Cascades route during the summer.
Long-distance Amtrak train service was one of those services targeted for budget cuts by the Trump administration's budget proposal. That led to rallies to save train service.
There were also big rallies held throughout the months of 2017 as people vented their disapproval of Donald Trump, including a Women's March in Washington, D.C.
In the midst of a very polarizing atmosphere, one event that united people was the August 21 total solar eclipse that crossed the United States from coast to coast. There was definitely a huge amount of hype, but certainly for good reason, because witnessing a total solar eclipse is pretty spectacular. People flocked to spots outside to view the eclipse, even in the Chicago area where only a partial eclipse could be viewed, and it was somewhat cloudy.
While I wasn't there that day, it was apparently a much busier day than usual at the Oak Park Public Library since it hosted a solar eclipse viewing event out in Scoville Park. The sorting and shelving team had an unusually large volume of materials being returned on the AMH. That machine was replaced in December, and it's a pretty swell machine that's now in place to handle the return and sorting of materials.
The Oak Park Public Library also took a significant step in making the library more accessible by instituting a fine-free policy. The library also hired a Multicultural Learning Librarian, Naomi Priddy, to oversee the recently-acquired Multicultural Collection, and expand opportunities for its use by a larger community of people in accessing its wealth of resources about cultures all over the world.
A new wealth of resources was opened to the public when the Bible Museum opened in Washington, D.C. Mississippi opened a Civil Rights Museum in celebration of its Bicentennial on December 10. Nebraska marked 150 years as a state back on March 1.
Dominican University marked 20 years since its name change from Rosary College, an anniversary that followed the name change of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science to the School of Infomation Studies, offering informatics studies in addition to the library information science studies.
The world's attention will focus on the United States come 2028 when the Olympics come back to this country with Los Angeles as the host city, decided at an IOC meeting that made Paris the 2024 Summer Olympics host city. That gives us something to look ahead to, even as we wrap up 2017 and take on 2018.
And perhaps greater fruit will be born from the commemoration of 500 years since Martin Luther's 95 Theses, which brought opportunities for ecumenical dialogue and prayer, which we hope continue to bind the wound to Christ's body. Perhaps it will happen in the spirit that is exhibited by Taize prayer services, which marked an anniversary at Ascension Parish back in October, 25 years of gathering together as one body of people in Christ to praise our God, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Friday, December 29, 2017
The Blue Matrix That Has...
It was 15 years ago this month that my parents purchased the 2003 bluish Toyota Matrix that they still own.
In the weeks beforehand, I participated in some of their trips to car dealerships to look at new cars, even riding in some cars that they test-drove. I didn't find it all that interesting to be present as they talked with people about cars, but I made a point to be a good sport about it. But it was pretty exciting when they brought the vehicle home from the Bredemann Toyota dealer in Park Ridge.
That meant it was time to bid farewell to the bluish Volvo vehicle my family had, the only vehicle I had ever really known up to that point in my life. It was a fine car and served us well in getting us to our destination on various trips, like our trips to Midwest locations including the Double JJ Ranch in Michigan (the last summer vacation for which we used that car), various trips to St. Louis (including one that tied in Springfield, IL, and Bluffdale Farm), and then to spots further away like Niagara Falls, and another trip to locations in Colorado including Denver and Estes Park. And it got us around town, like on those days when I got a ride to Irving School.
When I was new to middle school, my parents were in the process of acquiring the new car. And like the Volvo, it has served our needs well throughout the past 15 years. It got us around town, like me to school, first Julian, then OPRFHS, and then to Valparaiso University, as well as Dominican University when I didn't bike or go by public transit there for graduate school classes. It was the vehicle I used to build up behind the wheel experience once I started the process of learning how to drive. I'm glad my parents have graciously let me use it often throughout the years for short trips in the area, and even the one time I took it to ValpU to bring some of my belongings back home during the week leading up to my college graduation.
And we took some great family trips using the vehicle, including the Outer Banks in North Carolina (2003), Lake Lure in North Carolina (2005), Nashville (2006), Williamsburg in Virginia (2009) right before going to start at ValpU, the Great Smoky Mountain area of Tennessee and North Carolina (2010), and Washington, D.C. (2011).
Indeed, it's a good vehicle that's still working pretty well. I think back to the days when someone would pick me up from school, and as I walked out of school, it was always nice to see the sight of that bluish vehicle waiting to take me home. Similar to the home in which I grew up, the Matrix is one of those things that is part of how I have experienced life for the past 15 years, and I'm delighted that my family has had use of it.
In the weeks beforehand, I participated in some of their trips to car dealerships to look at new cars, even riding in some cars that they test-drove. I didn't find it all that interesting to be present as they talked with people about cars, but I made a point to be a good sport about it. But it was pretty exciting when they brought the vehicle home from the Bredemann Toyota dealer in Park Ridge.
That meant it was time to bid farewell to the bluish Volvo vehicle my family had, the only vehicle I had ever really known up to that point in my life. It was a fine car and served us well in getting us to our destination on various trips, like our trips to Midwest locations including the Double JJ Ranch in Michigan (the last summer vacation for which we used that car), various trips to St. Louis (including one that tied in Springfield, IL, and Bluffdale Farm), and then to spots further away like Niagara Falls, and another trip to locations in Colorado including Denver and Estes Park. And it got us around town, like on those days when I got a ride to Irving School.
When I was new to middle school, my parents were in the process of acquiring the new car. And like the Volvo, it has served our needs well throughout the past 15 years. It got us around town, like me to school, first Julian, then OPRFHS, and then to Valparaiso University, as well as Dominican University when I didn't bike or go by public transit there for graduate school classes. It was the vehicle I used to build up behind the wheel experience once I started the process of learning how to drive. I'm glad my parents have graciously let me use it often throughout the years for short trips in the area, and even the one time I took it to ValpU to bring some of my belongings back home during the week leading up to my college graduation.
And we took some great family trips using the vehicle, including the Outer Banks in North Carolina (2003), Lake Lure in North Carolina (2005), Nashville (2006), Williamsburg in Virginia (2009) right before going to start at ValpU, the Great Smoky Mountain area of Tennessee and North Carolina (2010), and Washington, D.C. (2011).
Indeed, it's a good vehicle that's still working pretty well. I think back to the days when someone would pick me up from school, and as I walked out of school, it was always nice to see the sight of that bluish vehicle waiting to take me home. Similar to the home in which I grew up, the Matrix is one of those things that is part of how I have experienced life for the past 15 years, and I'm delighted that my family has had use of it.
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