Clare emailed us contributors a while ago encouraging us to write a Christmas Letter to all of you. "What a great idea," I thought, and then promptly got bogged down in work, busy with family time, and far too deeply entranced in watching Downton Abbey and the BBC version of Brideshead Revisited. Thus, no Christmas letter came.
Now we are a week into the New Year and I'm wondering if it's even worth posting at all. But if you can excuse my lateness, here is abelated Christmas letter Happy New Year letter for you!
2011 was the year of greatest changes in my life that I can remember. A few things I did...
Now we are a week into the New Year and I'm wondering if it's even worth posting at all. But if you can excuse my lateness, here is a
2011 was the year of greatest changes in my life that I can remember. A few things I did...
Graduated from college
Started my first real, full-time, grown-up job
Moved twice (first to Silver Spring, Maryland, and then to Arlington, VA)
Went on a few dates here and there
Spent a week in Israel over spring break
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| Getting ready to visit a mosque in Bethlehem |
Spent an April weekend in Wisconsin shooting guns and playing with a baby duck
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| His name is Sir Percival Blakeney |
Got really into swing dancing (and placed second in a swing dance competition on December 30th!)
Lost my friend Matthew, a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College, and one of the best people I've ever known
Got really into Walker Percy novels and a band called L'Angelus, a combination that made me desperately want to visit New Orleans (anyone up for driving?)
Lost my friend Matthew, a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College, and one of the best people I've ever known
Got really into Walker Percy novels and a band called L'Angelus, a combination that made me desperately want to visit New Orleans (anyone up for driving?)
Dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween
Tutored inner-city girls on Saturday mornings
Started three knitting projects and completed none
Met many of my favorite writers and personal heroes: Father Robert Barron, George Weigel, Mary Eberstadt, Michael Pakaluk, Amy Bonaccorso, Mary Ann Glendon (pretty much the most adorable human being ever), Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, Michael Novak, David Brooks, and the inimitable Ross Douthat
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| Ross Douthat, my favorite journalist |
I also went to see some plays and operas... Marriage of Figaro at Notre Dame, and Tosca, Les Miserables, and Lucia di Lammermoor here in DC. I even went a little wild and bought season tickets to the opera!
I strengthened my faith life with a more regular prayer schedule and efforts to go to Mass every day.
I freelanced for this online journal, this magazine, and of course, for The Catholic Young Woman.
That was my 2011. I think 2012 will only get better! As Van and Davy would say, "If it's half as good as the half we've known, here's hail to the rest of the road!"
I strengthened my faith life with a more regular prayer schedule and efforts to go to Mass every day.
I freelanced for this online journal, this magazine, and of course, for The Catholic Young Woman.
That was my 2011. I think 2012 will only get better! As Van and Davy would say, "If it's half as good as the half we've known, here's hail to the rest of the road!"
How was your 2011?
Tess, I love your blog! I've been reading it for the past couple of months and your entries have been really inspiring. I've always kind of struggled with the idea of living out my Catholic faith in today's world, to "be in the world but not of the world." You have shown me that this, however difficult, is indeed very possible. Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts with us!
ReplyDeleteHannah, thank you for such a sweet comment, and I'm so glad you've been reading! I think that one of the hardest things for me in blogging is talking about my faith without seeming too "preachy" and also not too mushy/emotional. It's just such a big part of who I am that I can't really avoid the topic, you know? Anyway, I'm so glad you're liking it! That makes me feel like I'm doing something right. :)
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