2023 in review

Whew, I think 2023 was the busiest year of my life! Two jobs, lots of voluntary editing, numerous conferences. lots of therapy. It's been nice to take a breath when I get a chance!

I've noticed throughout my adult life, there are a few pairs of years that match well with each other:

2008/2009: Mission

2010/2011: BYU winter through summer, working at Church Distribution in the fall

2012/2013: In Provo all year, important editing and geology classes

2018/2019: This Is the Place in the summer, Sundance in the fall

2020/2021: COVID and grad school

It seems that 2023 is going to be a companion year to 2022: working for the Church History Department and being newly out.

So, here is my year in review for 2023! I look forward to making this post all year, every year.

January. My internship at the Church History Department ended, but I started a new part-time position in the department. There were some hiccups in transitioning, though. I took swimming lessons, where I learned to butterfly. I enjoyed hiking in the snow.

I toured Holdman Studios at Thanksgiving Point. I began attending group therapy sessions with other gay men.

February. I continued my swimming lessons. I took a day trip to Bear River Bird Refuge.

I did a Valentine's-themed 5k. I ripped my suit pants on the sacrament microphone, and the next week I spoke in sacrament meeting. I accepted a position with Utah Historical Quarterly, though I didn't start until the next month. I attended a women's history symposium at the Conference Center.

March. I was a judge for National History Day, just days before I started my own position with the Utah Historical Society. I went to the Siamsa festival at the Gateway. On St. Patrick's Day, I went to the National Parks concert all decked out head-to-toe in green.

Too bad my watch isn't green

My grandparents started moving into my sister's house.

April. We continued with my grandparents' move, and we had insane snowstorms. For Easter, I made hot cross buns and jelly bean cookies.

My sister, my niece, and I joined my parents in Virginia for vacation. We took a trip into Delaware and another into Washington DC, and we saw many historic sites in Virginia.

May. I went to North Salt Lake's kite festival. My state job took a walking tour of vintage signs in Sugar House. I did the Splash 'n' Sprint triathlon, but I psyched myself out during the swim. I got some good trail runs in, despite intense spring runoff.

June. My first Pride Month out of the closet! I had a magnificent 13.5-mile trail run. I helped with a service project at Camp Piuta in the Uintas. I went paddleboarding at Yuba Lake. I spent a lot of time editing for Wayfare magazine.

The wildflowers are unreal in June

While pulling goathead weeds, I found a lost wallet and was able to track down the owner and return it.

July. I ran North Salt Lake's Liberty Fest 5k. I made a flag cake for the Fourth of July.

I did more Wayfare editing. I took a trip to California that lasted less than twenty-four hours to escort my niblings home and meet their cat, Pudding. I went to the Pioneer Day drone show at Liberty Park. I went paddleboarding in Farmington Pond.

August. I presented on historical documentation for the Peoples of Utah Revisited symposium. I had a few rattlesnake encounters, including one in the dark when I had to jump over it. I did another service project at Camp Piuta.

September. I went paddleboarding at Pineview Reservoir. I did a very rainy Labor Day triathlon. I enjoyed the beginning of fall trail season.

I attended a live recording of Mormon Land with Richard and Claudia Bushman, and then I attended the Gather conference for LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints. I got edits back for my Pioneer Day article, so I spent a lot of time reviewing those. I went camping with my family and then saw the National Parks at their Superbloom music festival. I turned thirty-five.

October. I attended the Faith Matters Restore gathering, and we watched the partial eclipse. I had a very busy month, so I relished the trail runs I got in.

My state job took a walking tour of Ogden's 25th Street, and then they sent me to Los Angeles for the Western History Association conference. I loved wearing my Halloween sweaters. 

November. I started the month by editing a book for Faith Matters. I was happy to get an inflatable cornucopia to join my Thanksgiving display. I did some final trail runs of the season.

I went to M. Russell Ballard's funeral. My group therapy ended.

December. I enjoyed the Christmas season.

Reggie liked to chew on the Christmas tree

My Pioneer Day article finally came out! I went to the Lower Lights Christmas concert. My brother's family came to visit for Christmas, and we had enough snow to go sledding once. My job with the Church History Department came to an end, and Wayfare editing resumed.

I'm looking forward to 2024 being a little calmer! But that's not to say that being busy is bad. 

Happy New Year!