Another year filled with the unexpected, of hopes scrapped, of plans scrubbed, of loss and grief. Another year also filled with resiliency, identifying and holding fast to the essential, going with the flow and staying together in spirit...
• Twelve– An extended Dec/Jan trip to Honolulu via SoCal for the funeral (12/28) of Sherman’s dad, Alfred. His ashes were laid to rest at Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery 20 months after dying of Covid. A very socially distanced reception was held in the courtyard of the church where Al grew up. When planned months prior we thought it safe to gather; with omicron we did what we could to honor his memory and bring him home to his birthplace. (Eulogy for Dad includes video/text)
• Eleven– After not conducting interviews for years, Sherman rekindled that in hiring 11 folks in 2021. Seven of those were for building a new offshore team in India. And four others were for church-related work. All this was completed in time to enable the extended trip to Hawaii.
• Ten– If it’s the last day of the tenth month, it’s Halloween, a special day for Noah and girlfriend Evan. 2021 was extra special as they got engaged! We’re so excited for these high school sweethearts, and look forward to the special day - probably in 2023 because everything’s already booked for 2022.
• Nine– Noah’s cat since a kitten, Cuddles, expended his ninth life in May. The gray tabby with the loudest purr (and softest meow) lived 18 happy years. He will be missed. And Patches, the calico with hangry screams loud enough to loosen your ear wax, soldiers on towards her 21st birthday in April. It seems like she’s on her 11th of the her “nine lives”....
• Eight– Back in August things were safe enough for us spend a week in SoCal, visit with family, enjoy In ‘n’ Out Burger and three new boba tea shops. The pandemic was waning then, right?!?
• Seven– After months of job searching, Noah started a full-time position at Boeing here in St. Louis, started in July. He’s on the defense side of things, has security clearance, and we don’t ask him more than that. He didn’t move out until end of the year, allowing him to build up his finances, and we benefitted from his delicious cooking.
• Six– Denise and I were grateful that our 2nd vaccinations became effective in June! That coincided with seeing item Three below.
• Five– Denise continues her dedicated leadership within the Scouts of America, in her fifth year as the Eagle Scout Board, conducting reviews and effortlessly switching between Zoom or in-person. One milestone was her participating in the first Court of Honor for the first local female Eagle Scouts!
• Four– # of new tech milestones in 2021, mentioning only two here. One was Sherman helping quickly convert an in-person conference to all virtual in February. Another was producing this year’s Sunday School Christmas drama morphed from last year’s Zoom film to a live rendition synced with their pre-recorded audio so that children could safely mime their parts. There was also a bit of green screen magic to enhance the experience for those onsite or viewing from home.
• Three– Graham Hanneke, first grandchild on both sides, was born in March. A couple of weeks later he had successful (one-time) open heart surgery. No significant impact on his development and years from now he can boast a scar to tell the story. Amy and Drew are loving parents, nurturing Graham and the two cats, Pascal & Ed. Not surprisingly, those three consider themselves siblings. He’s not going to be spoiled at all…
Two– as in Denise being featured in a second book, “I’m Right Here: 10 Ways to Get Help for Hoarding and Chronic Disorganization” by Jill B. Yesko. How cool that she was recognized for her pioneering work in the field and was interviewed and written about by Jill!
• One– as in the One who we celebrate this time of year...
Together in Spirit with you in 2022!
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Sherman & Denise, Amy & Drew & Graham, Noah & Evan
