Closing Out 2021

 What a year... really, what a year.

It was the first year of my life that I performed my job (be that a job, or school, or whatever) entirely from home.  We have not returned to the office as of yet...and I prefer it that way.

My health has suffered for it, but to be fair, it wasn't great when I started and I can at least say I'm starting this year weighing slightly less than last year.  I'm also more cognizant of my health needs now.

Work has been a whirlwind.  On March 31 of this year, my boss John tragically died.  He committed suicide.  None of us knew were permitted to know what happened until we found out on our own (for reasons).  I found out through a friend.  It hit me hard because John was this guy that had all his shit together.  We looked up to him.  I will never forget our last Tuesday staff meeting with him.  I thought to myself, "John seems bummed" but I didn't inquire.  He was a guy that just didn't open up with me and I wasn't going to be nosy.  I wish I had...it's not likely that me asking him how he was would have changed the outcome but I could have tried.  I know the "what if" game never ends well so I won't even go there.  But he's missed all the time.  We never had a proper way to say goodbye to him and I am haunted by that regularly.  Many of us are.  

My colleague K. and I ended up splitting John's duties with a more senior engineer Mark.  I hated it at first.  We were all so overworked and they wanted us to take on MORE?!  But we did it for the sake of the company.  And here's the thing, did I get compensated for it as much as I should have?  No, probably not.  But I sure appreciate that they let us try and are not pushing us into more than we are ready for.  We both (all three actually) love our company like family so we stick to it, knowing we might get more money elsewhere.  That opinion may change over time, but for the current future, that's where it stands.

At the end of this year, one of our former CEO's, Jim Hacking, passed away.  It was another hard loss for those of us at the company who knew him.  

Work continues into the new year as a struggle.  My colleague, mentor, and friend, Bear-Bear is retiring.  It's going to hit hard and continue to sting for a long time.  There's not much to say other than, I'm glad he's retiring.  He needs it, he deserves it, and it's on his terms, as it should be.

I started investing this year.  It's fun but scary so I don't invest much, just bits here and there.  I started out on one app and have added another to my list.  Both allow me to do penny stocks and ETFs which are crucial for my "learning this shit on my own" approach.  I've started teaching D so she knows.

Although I have not taught as SIUE for some time,  I am still asked and do so when I can.  With a preteen in sports, that's hard to do though.  I am one of the 2022 Outstanding Alumni recipients..so that's neat.  I'm not telling anyone at work about it though.

I still like volunteering for SEI and my child's school.  They both fulfill me in ways work cannot.  They do get tiring though.  I'd love to shed some of those duties into 2022...so let that be one of my resolutions.

Other resolutions: continue to work on my health...work smarter and less, do more with my kiddo, and try to worry less.