I was taking this past week off from work, projects and almost everything that used my time. However, I did set time aside for my family and video games. This has been a very relaxing week, I even stayed off the computer for the most part. My daughter and I have been tackling some classic games and discovering new ones. I wanted to reflect on a few different levels as to what has transpired over the past 365 days. There was a lot that happened besides the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On the global scene with all of the distractions these did take place this year.

• Australian bushfire: We started the year with most of Australia on fire.
• Prince Harry & Meghan Markle quit the royal family: on January 8th, the Duke & Duchess of Sussex stepped down as ‘senior’ royals.
• Kim Jong Un death rumors: The speculation started when he missed the event commemorating his grandfather, he reemerged 20 days later.
• Beirut explosion: 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was detonated and killed over 190 while injuring thousands.
• Twitter hack: a group of Florida teens take over the twitter accounts of prominent business and political figures.

The US had a few highlights as well.

• Impeachment of Donald Trump: Most of January was focus on this while on February 5th he was acquitted by the Senate
• Murder Hornets arrive in the US: They didn’t make it very far, but the Asian giant hornet could wipe out bee colonies in a matter of hours.
• Joe Biden becomes the Democratic presidential nominee: the former Veep emerges from a very crowded democratic fields of over two dozed hopefuls.
• Kamala Harris chosen as Democratic VP candidate: the California senator is the first black woman and the first Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket.
• West Coast wildfires: billions of acres are burned from California to Washington state
• Joe Biden becomes President-elect: Pennsylvania propels him to victory to become the 46th president on January 20th.
• COVID-19 vaccine rollout: the FDA approves the first vaccine on December 14 and one week later a second vaccine. Two vaccine developed in less than a year can be touted as one of greatest scientific accomplishments in US history.

Every year we make it around the sun it is a gift. Unfortunately, not every made the full trip this time.

• Kobe Bryant – January 26
• Chadwick Bosemans – August 28
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg – September 18
• Eddie Van Halen – October 6
• Alex Trebek – November 8
• Dawn Wells – December 30

Each year CSI loses our own celebrities. I bow my head to those Fellows who we lost in 2020.

• Joel Stegall, FCSI – Calls of 1965 (January 28)
• Robert Molseed, FCSI – Class of 1987 (July 2)
• Alan Horne, FCSI – Class of 2020 (December 24)
• Robert V. M. Harrison, FCSI – Class of 1991 (December 29)

COVID is the new reality of 2020. With over 20 million infections and 751,000 deaths worldwide everyone was touched in by it in some manner. My brother and cousin were hospitalized, and I’m sure everyone has a story that hits close to home. But I wanted to end of a more positive note of the happenings at CSINext. Shortly after CSINext celebrated 10 years as chapter, we were ready for the emergence of the new virtual world.

• Release of the iOS native app: Take the virtual chapter with you on your iPhone, we release 2 major versions continuing to improve the member experience.
• Virtual meetings: at the first of the year, we reached near compacity offering excellent programs.
• Virtual offerings: CSINext offered its webinar platform to chapters everywhere to continue different chapter members to meet.
• Institute Awards: The Chapter and its members received 4 awards from Institute including Outstanding Chapter Commendation.

Finally, I had a lot going on this year. While our office sheltered in place for 5 months. We remained busy. I took advantage of climbing to almost every mountain peak within 30 miles of Tucson. I converted a powder room to a full bath. Our house got a little more crowded with family moving in. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cheers to 2021, may it be a bright light as we embark on a new decade. And in closing, hopefully everyone continues to stay safe and has a Happy New Year!

…and now for something completely different.
You would be burning more calories while you sleep than you would be able to do so by watching television.