The title could easily have been ‘Horrific and Wonderful’, but I made a choice to first focus on the most awesome moments of 2021 before mentioning anything else. So in no particular order…
THE WONDERFUL
Vaccination Day
Like millions of others, the pandemic shut down my industry and forever changed my role in it once we started to work. Unfortunately, the work that began required travel and/or dealing with college age students who weren’t good about mask-wearing at a time when the pandemic was still threatening to shut us back down. I was worried for my health as well as for another year of employment losses.
When it came time to sign up for vaccine notification, I stretched the definition of my eligibility so that I would be able to schedule my shot earlier. Two days later I rolled past a mile of cones at the Oakland Coliseum FEMA vaccination site with many others to get my first shot.
Tears rolling down my face, I thanked the doctor who gave me my shot.
Family Time
After everyone in our families was fully vaxxed, my partner and I finally made our way to the Midwest for a long-awaited reunion with our families: first with my family in Ohio, then with his family in Pennsylvania. And yes, seeing them was about as emotional as I thought it would be.
We spent two weeks going back and forth between our two families. We also spent some time with friends. It was a ton of driving. But through it all, I never stopped being grateful as hell for something that I will never take for granted again.
Hadestown
Late August/early September 2021 was a significant time in for Broadway (and the performing arts scene in general) as shows and performance venues started reopening in the vaxxed/post-shutdown era. I knew nothing about this show other than my Broadway crush, Timothy Hughes, was in the cast. But I’d had a stressful work day and was willing to do whatever was needed in order to see something that could transport me. I went to the box office – vax card in hand – and bought a single ticket.
The show was interesting, but the performers were absolutely phenomenal. I was indeed transported to a place I’d forgotten existed: that place where art, and talented performers, can touch your soul and change you forever. Until that night, I didn’t realize how much I missed being in that place. Thank you to that entire cast and crew for giving me something that I so desperately needed.
Work
Like many in 2020, my industry completely shut down and there were times when I wasn’t sure if I’d ever do the work that I love again. Fortunately, 2021 saw the return of many tournaments. It was a slow trickle at first, but that trickle ended up being one of my busiest years. The blessing, however, was NOT merely that I had work. It was the overwhelming number of opportunities I had for professional growth that were extremely humbling and amazing. New roles, new responsibilities, new challenges, and a chance to remake my career in the post-pandemic era.
(I’d also like to give a shout-out to the co-workers who made this year meaningful. I hope you all know who you are.)
Love
My heart goes out to the many hundreds of thousands affected in the US by COVID. I’ve been incredibly fortunate. All of my loved ones have stayed safe and mostly COVID-free. I am especially grateful for the man who has stood by my side for these past 4 years. I would never have been able to weather this pandemic storm as well as I have without his presence. Between him and my family/friends, I’m one helluva lucky guy.
President Joe Biden/Vice President Kamala Harris
Our four year nightmare of abject racism and legislative cruelty from the highest office in the land ended on January 21, 2021. That was the day Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, and Kamala Harris was inaugurated as his Vice-President. If you don’t believe this to be the case, we never need to speak again.
(Honorable Mention to ‘Pose’ for helping me relive my teens and twenties with the power of positivity that many of my generation never got from our families or origin.)
THE HORRIFIC
Insurrection
On Jan. 6, 2021, the former President of the United attempted to overthrow our government with the help of of an organized white supremacist presence from without, and traitorous government officials from within. They did not succeed, but the degree to which many of the organizers have been allowed to stay out of jail and/or keep their positions in government is despicable, and spits in the face of everything for which this nation is supposed to stand. Anyone who doesn’t feel this way is also a traitor, and not worthy of citizenship in this country, or friendship in my family of origin/choice.
Systemic Racism in America
The abject horror of George Floyd’s murder could have been a moment of racial reckoning for America. In the end, however, it wasn’t. And very few seem willing to have that ‘honest’ conversation to which they keep alluding. So I will let my past writings on this subject stand, and move on…
COVID-19
The pandemic continues to ravage the lives of many and wreak havoc on our economy because of the diehard who would rather die than receive a vaccine that could save their lives, and the lives of those around them who they might infect. I will only add that this is most true for those of a certain political affiliation, and also for those of a certain race. This is the consequence of politicizing a pandemic.
(I’m stopping at 3 items. There’s no need to carry unnecessary shit into the New Year that doesn’t need to be carried.)
This is by no means an exhaustive list for either The Wonderful or The Horrific, nor was it planned to be. It’s meant to be a high-level gratitude list for the things that mattered most this past year, and reminder of the things that we actually do need to fight in order to make America great. I’m hoping for much more of the Wonderful and less of the Horrific in 2022.
And I wish the same for all of you.