100 Things That Made* My Year in 2021

*I am using the term ‘made’ lightly. 2021 was crazy, downcast on many fronts, and overall still a weird blend of pandemic life. But still, but still… So that we may learn to sharpen our appreciation for the more cosmic things in life, trying times can help us chart out kernels worth being thankful for. Here are mine, in no particular order:

1. Got engaged to the individual I admire and love and adore most — my darling. Got to relive our UCLA student days. Got to reminisce over our love blossoming in Paris. Got to celebrate with family.
2. Married my darling in the best city in the world! Impromptu, just us two. La vie est belle.
3. Connecting with wonderful people on Instagram.
4. Writing in my Roterfaden journal.
5. Finding all kinds of cool fountain pen ink.
6. Celebrating New Year’s Eve with sparklers.
7. Passed the California Bar and became an attorney!
8. Getting to negotiate with NYC hotels.
9. Finally (after close to a year of waiting) putting up a gallery wall art in our living room.
10. My mom’s mishkin tort (bear’s cake), a delicious walnut chocolate ganache and delicious pie-esque layered cake.
11. Receiving and sending snail mail/letters.
12. Rediscovering the magic of the Battleship board game.
13. Seeing dad’s stunning jewelry designs and artwork and talent and craftsmanship.
14. Experiencing Autumn in New York.
15. Pajamas. And the warmth of clothes fresh from the laundry.
16. Taking engagement photos in Central Park and West Village.
17. Making YouTube videos and enjoying the process of learning something I am uncomfortable about.
18. Hiking at Fryman Canyon.
19. Found our whimsical Christmas tree; or rather, our Christmas tree found us thanks to a cute ladybug sitting on one of its branches in the moment of indecision when I most needed such a sign of ‘follow your gut!’
20. Grandma Antonina feeling better after time in the hospital.
21. Held the hand of my Great Uncle Gregory and spent an evening listening to his stories of the past.
22. Brother got to experience NYC for the first time, and I was there to witness his excitement, which included getting completely hammered and staying up all night and watching the sunrise over a friend’s Brooklyn apartment.
23. Witnessed some of our loveliest friends getting married! In Half Moon Bay and in Malibu. Both stellar celebrations of love.
24. My brother working nearby and coming over for lunch breaks.
25. Candles in the evenings.
26. Trader Joe’s runs with my darling.
27. Peak Blinders rewatch, and also one in Russian. I’m obsessed. Sorry not sorry.
28. On that note, watching Cillian Murphy’s stellar performances in other complex, psychological roles. Stunned by that guy’s talent.
29. Thanksgiving baking and wine night and game night with Marina.
30. Pomegranate season. Yum.
31. Video chats with my high school buddy, Ian.
32. Meeting Lil’s little one!
33. Books. Ah, books. Rediscovering the greats. Floored by Camus, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy.
34. Rediscovering my love for political science and history. And also biographies. Oppenheimer was a great read.
35. Learning that grief never really leaves us. It comes and goes. The ebb of missing Beam pops up at random moments. You just gotta realize it’s only passing through.
36. Joan Didion’s writing. Amazing.
37. Homemade pizza nights.
38. Spiffing up my Instagram. All my great collaborations.
39. Watching good television.
40. Clark’s Street Diner.
41. Hitting new dinner spots in New York City.
42. Hearing my loved ones laugh.
43. Singing a Russian folksong as my family prepped the Christmas tree this year.
44. Afternoon naps.
45. Nuxe body and hair oil.
46. Rediscovering the meaning of the following from Andre Theuriet: “la fleur des vignes pousse, et j’ai vingt ans ce soir.”
47. My family installing an antique chandelier in the backyard just in time for my birthday.
48. Perfecting my chicken noodle soup recipe.
49. Visiting Laguna Beach and taking a beach side stroll.
50. Looking through travel photos over the years, and physical photos of family.
51. Finding a delicious citrus olive oil cake. Yum.
52. Cartier watch and jewelry that I will hand down to my children one day.
53. Haircut by Hiro.
54. Visiting Austin, Texas and Seattle, Washington for the first time.
55. Working on my newsletter.
56. Sahale Snacks Mango Tango trail mix.
57. Coming up with a running list of doggo names in my phone notes.
58. Dinner dates with Vart and Em.
59. Sushi.
60. Deciding to strengthen language skills (Russian) and learn a new one (French!)
61. Having a home to welcome people.
62. Sam Harris and meditation.
63. Signing up for a gym.
64. G’s homemade breakfasts and delicious sauce.
65. Learning how to bake my grandma’s traditional birthday cake.
66. Watering plants.
67. Barefoot Dreams blanket. A fluff of clouds.
68. My dad designing my engagement ring. Such a deep layer of symbolism and love to cherish.
69. Getting a new phone with a sweet camera.
70. Candlelit Christmas tree.
71. Using good quality dinnerware and porcelain coffee cups.
72. Fresh, crisp air outdoors.
73. Anticipation of Peaky Blinders Season 6.
74. Feeling the feeling of curiosity and inquisitiveness with regard to knowledge-building.
75. Seeing a postcard from Cambridge University I had sent to my grandma while studying abroad there.
76. Workouts. Being able to move my body.
77. Giving my husband unsolicited hugs and randomly bugging him around the house.
78. Stepping foot into museums as soon as they reopened.
79. Enjoying pho and food delivery.
80. Having a sweet, expert dentist.
81. AirPods. Truly a game changer.
82. My dad calling Lululemon “Bluelemon,” and the movie series “Divergent” –> “Detergent”
83. Continuing to make sourdough bread.
84. Finishing Proust Volume I.
85. Discovering George Saunders.
86. Committing to writing in the new year.
87. Staying at Marlton Hotel near Washington Square Park.
88. Celebrating birthday in NYC.
89. The thrill of getting to an airport and flying to a new city.
90. Meeting up with Bora in New York.
91. Rainy days at home with a good book and tea.
92. Making bone broth in a pressure cooker.
93. Swimming in a pool.
94. Listening to Pink Floyd.
95. Planning trips.
96. Slow dancing with my husband.
97. New pillows on the bed.
98. Korean BBQ with brother bear and sister in law.
99. Family dinners and my grandma’s toasts.
100. People’s smiles and their voices.

And now, with a bon voyage into 2022, we begin anew!