December 24, 2024

“The course of human history is determined, not by what happens in the skies, but by what takes place in our hearts”              --Sir Arthur Kent

Season’s Greetings Friends and Family,

2024. Wow, what a year! As the sun shines outside my window and the wind blows, I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. Good health, loyal friends, loving family, and a beautiful environment to live in the Pacific Northwest. It’s amazing to think I’ve now resided in this part of the country longer than my birthplace Cleveland (35 years, give or take the 3 years I lived in D.C. & 6 months in Bloomington, IN).

How are you? After celebrating a milestone birthday last year, I rolled into 61with determination to stay fit and mentally healthy, not easy in an election year! I continue to love my work at the Center for the Study of Health & Risk Behaviors in UW Psychiatry and the School of Medicine. I enjoy my boss, the faculty with whom I interact, and our pre- and post-doctoral students. We are all working to improve the health of young adults in this country thanks to the behavioral research we do in prevention and treatment.

An unexpected trip in June to Cleveland to attend a brunch at my high school alma mater allowed me to not only engage with recent St. Ignatius graduates and current faculty and staff but also get reacquainted with high school and drama club friend Bob Lukacevic, in addition to my childhood friend Renee. I have to say that trip in late spring was one of the highlights of my year and reminded me of the importance of staying connected to Cleveland, a place that had such an impact on my character formation as a young person.

In September Odie O’Dell and I took another lifetime trip to Italy. First spending 8 days in sizzling Rome (where the daily temp was 93 degrees F) we revisited sites from my earlier trip there in 2009, including reconnecting with friend Danilo and his partner Fabio, in addition to my college friend Joanne’s cousin Anna Rita, her husband Max, and their grown daughter Alisa. We so enjoyed their company during those fledgling days. Then we flew to Sicily’s capital, Palermo, averting a train strike, and headed to Cefalu in a van with 4 friendly teenagers just graduated from high school, landing in Cefalu for my godson Ryan’s wedding to his lovely girlfriend Amanda. Both sides of Ryan and Amanda’s family gathered there, and we spent 5 days swimming in the sea and

strolling around the town. I was honored to officiate at their wedding and spend relaxed time with the couple, Ryan’s mom and my dear friend Carolyn, and both sides of their family. Odie and I continued our adventures, bicycling in Palermo, taking a train along the coast to spend time in Siracusa, Taormina, Noto, and Catania, and just soaking up La Dolce Vita.

The last few months feel like they have sped by and I’m unsure I am ready for 2025. I am really staying in the moment and hoping to remain grounded in my life and pursuits. For the first time in three years, I’ll be staying here in Seattle for Christmas and have enjoyed the time with people in all my various friendship groups.

Wishing you and yours a very special holiday, and a happy, healthy new year.

Love,

 

Jack

Wedding in seaside town of Cefalu, Sicily, Sept 10, 2024