I started a tradition back in 1996 of making a list of the most memorable events of the year. My definition of memorable can include both the positive and the negative, but generally it’s the good things that make the list. That first list in 1996 had exactly twenty items, so I’ve made the list a top twenty every year since.
Here is my 21st annual list.
Feb 9 – Shrove Tuesday – I helped cook pancakes and lots of bacon (quite the achievement for a vegetarian) and then listened to the confession of some very funny sins
Feb 22 – Harris Hill Ski Jump Competition
All Year – Activism to support public education in Boston and Massachusetts including protesting the State of the City address, a Walk-in and Rally for Boston Public Schools, the BPS Student Walkout, and the successful effort to defeat the ballot initiative to allow unlimited charter school expansion.
March – My mother moves to the Bronx, meaning that we get to see my mother more often and visit New York frequently. In fact, I made 7 trips to New York City this year and spent a total of 3 weeks visiting! Highlights include multiple visits to the Bronx Zoo, the Harlem Meer in Central Park, the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the Empire State Building, a Circle Line Cruise, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.
April 16-18 – Patriots Day Weekend in Boston
April – participating in the A to Z Challenge
April to June – my son’s baseball season. It was a close-knit team and I got to help out keeping score. The highlight was when the team rallied to score 18 runs in the last inning when they were down by 14 (they lost the game anyway, but they were so proud)
June 19 – The Bikes Not Bombs Bike-A-Thon
July 2 – riding the Codzilla on Boston Harbor and then watching hip hop dancers and fireworks at Christopher Columbus Park
August 6 – Susan’s Birthday at McCoy Stadium
Aug 17 – Taking a sunset cruise on the MBTA ferry with my son while my wife and daughter were on a pirate ship
Sep 12 – My daughter starts kindergarten at our local public school, meaning that both kids are finally at the same school, with the same schedule, and same drop-off & pick-up!
Oct 10 – A visit to Old Sturbridge Village
May to October – another great Boston By Foot season, leading 31 walking tours. The highlight was a tour to two women from Toronto who told me that their first stop in Boston was the Warren Anatomical Museum
Oct 29 – A Halloween Prowl at Moose Hill Sanctuary
Oct 30 – got to have fun on four separate visits to amusement parks, including one day at Rye Playland, and three times to Canobie Lake Park. The last time was during Screeemfest when I took my son and two of his besties to celebrate his birthday. We had to run from monsters, but the boys also went on the Corkscrew for the first (second, third, and fourth) times.
Nov 1 – chaperone for a 3rd grade trip to Plimoth Plantation with three great kids who asked lots of interesting questions
Nov 8 – the election, memorable if not for good reasons, although I prefer to remember when progressive ideals got widespread support and exposure during the Bernie Sanders campaign, which also gives me some hope for the future
Nov 24 – Thanksgiving Day Parade
Previously:
- 2015 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2014 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2013 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2012 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2011 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2010 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2009 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2008 Year in Review: Memorable Events
- 2007 Year in Review: Memorable Events
Panorama of the Mountains 