Moments of Note 2019

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If you’re a regular reader, you know that I recommend keeping a running record of what I call “Moments of Note” during the course of the year as a means of preserving the most meaningful events of the year.

It’s my way of not allowing any year to slip away without notice (which is what we so often do).

Then, when the year is finally complete, I review the list in order to look back on the previous year and acknowledge that stuff happened. The year mattered. I did some things. I didn’t waste my time.

I did that this morning, reading and revising the list so I could post it today. The list won’t mean anything to you, but as I read through each item, I felt an enormous sense of satisfaction for a year lived well. It made me feel very good about my most recent trip around the sun.

It was also a lot of fun reliving my year and remembering all the moments that made it special.

Like I said, my list will mean nothing to you, but your list would mean the world to you, so if you’re not already keeping one, start today.

MOMENTS OF NOTE 2019

  • I was awarded a federal trademark for the concept of “Homework for Life.”

  • I attended the Patriots playoff game, where they beat the San Diego Chargers 41-28.

  • Elysha and I saw Elton John in what is supposedly his final tour.

  • I won the Valley Voices Story Slam Championship in North Hampton, MA.

  • The Patriots won the Super Bowl for the fifth time.

  • I delivered the keynote address for the Literacy Volunteers of Central CT gala.

  • I taught storytelling and communication strategies at MIT.

  • I began consulting for one of the largest advertising firms in the country.

  • We attended Clara and Charlie’s dance recital.

  • Charlie started playing Little League baseball.

  • I spent three days in Vermont working on storytelling with a small group of attorneys.

  • We made our first trip to Disney World in Florida.

  • Elysha and I saw the 20th anniversary revival of Rent.

  • I spoke to an audience of 2,000 at the Yale-New Haven Hospital conference at the Oakdale.

  • I delivered the keynote at the Newington High School alternative graduation program.

  • I taught storytelling workshops here in Hartford to attendees from Maryland, Kansas City, Montreal, Philly, Mexico City, and Orlando.

  • I taught a summertime storytelling bootcamp in Hartford to students from China, British Columbia, San Diego, and Chicago.

  • Elysha started gardening.

  • Elysha and I saw Hamilton.

  • Charlie and I marched in the Memorial Day parade with his baseball team.

  • I performed stand up six times.

  • Elysha and I produced 17 Speak Up shows at Infinity Hall, the Connecticut Historical Society, Real Art Ways, and several solo show locations.

  • We spent a week visiting our friends, Plato and Sharon, on Whidbey Island, in Washington.

  • I taught a workshop and performed my solo show at the Taproot Theater in Seattle. Elysha played her ukulele and sang publicly for just the second time.  

  • I published my sixth book, “Twenty-one Truths About Love.”

  • I won 8 Moth StorySLAMs, including my first in Seattle.

  • I competed in four Moth GrandSLAM competitions in New York and Boston.

  • We became members of Winding Trails and spent endless summer days on the beach.

  • Elysha and I celebrated one year of podcasting.

  • I directed Carla Katz’s solo show.

  • Charlie was elected to the student senate.

  • Clara and Charlie attended Winding Trails summer camp for two weeks and loved it.

  • Clara finished elementary school and began middle school.

  • I wrote for Lisa Lampanelli’s theater show.

  • I began taking golf lessons.

  • I officiated the wedding of one of my very first students.

  • I spoke at Grand Rounds at Yale University.

  • I spoke to 500 state and federal prosecutors in Indianapolis, Indiana.

  • “Greetings Little One” became a book (six books in all).

  • Our cat, Pluto, died and was then resuscitated via CPR, giving him and I something uniquely in common.  

  • Elysha and I attended an Elvis Costello/Blondie concert.

  • Charlie swallowed a marble.

  • Our bathroom was finally remodeled.

  • Our driveway was finally repaved.

  • I attended seven New England Patriots games with my friends Shep and Scott.

  • I surprised Elysha with a weekend getaway to Dorsett, VT.