Fifty was a year of big change, as it should be. It came during 2024 which by all considerations was a strange year on many fronts. It was filled with endings and new beginnings.
Some of the good:
- Live music: Bruce Springsteen, Deer Tick, Grace Potter, Greensky Bluegrass, Madi Diaz, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Goose, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Vampire Weekend, Iron and Wine, Neko Case, Sarah Jarosz, Stephen Wilson Jr., Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello
- Gardening: Three seasons of great harvest!
- Friendship: Rekindled old ones, spent quality time with besties, and made new connections.
- Travel: Two trips to Germany (Berlin and Munich), plus visits to Los Angeles and Phoenix.
- Work: A new role at a hyper-growth company has taught me new and old lessons in a white-hot industry, and I’ve started working with a professional coach to sharpen my focus.
- Family: My oldest son’s Bar Mitzvah was a massive milestone for us all, and both boys continue to surprise and delight me each day.
Still, the end of the year brings with it reflection, optimism, and a bit of discomfort about the unknown. These feelings are a reminder to appreciate what we’ve experienced so far and prepare for whatever comes next.
Just a week before the holidays, JRI-Poland—a genealogical research organization—suffered a big blow when our founder, Stanley, passed away at 91 after a difficult few months. As a board member and volunteer, I jumped into action to support the organization through fundraising and transition activities. As a board, we had spent what seemed like years, planning for this eventuality. When it arrived it just felt like we were fumbling through.
Because I had to focus so much on the organization’s needs, I couldn’t fully absorb the loss. Now, just a few days into the new year, I feel his absence more intensely. Speaking with Stanley’s daughter today made it all the more real.
Stanley started JRI-Poland at age 61, driven purely by passion. For 30 years, he poured himself into this venture—serving as a testament that it’s never too late to make an impact. I learned many things from Stanley in late night conversations where the topics shifted between recordkeeping practices of former Polish shtetls to fatherhood to research tips and tricks.
I only hope I can impact the number of lives that Stanley did in his third act. What I do know is that at 50 I still have lots of opportunity ahead.