Jenn’s 2023 Year In Review
The year started with a sprint. I ended 2022 quite sick (COVID take two or three?), which led us to cancel our holiday plans in California and coming home for Christmas to Frasier in New York. Since I was unable to see Dad for Christmas, he decided to visit me in mid-January, which was such a wonderful time for us to connect, have good eats, walk along the park with Frasier, and enjoy being in NYC as father and daughter. The month also brought wonderful news from Joel and his job, where he came home with a nice bonus and one that I am still immensely proud of him for. Of course, that led us to open some champagne and celebrate his much-deserved success.
If January was a sprint, February was a marathon. Both Joel and I were leading highly visible leadership offsites for our companies – in San Francisco and Miami respectively. After exhausting myself to the bone in delivering a near-perfect event, I flew off to Miami to get some R&R and cheer on Joel from the sidelines as he executed a flawless event. After getting a serious sunburn from naively laying out on the beach thinking I didn’t need sunscreen, Joel and I flew home just in time to wish Frasier a wonderful 4th birthday. Shortly after, Jake joined us for his first visit of the year where we indulged ourselves in some great eats and Broadway shows.
March came and went, with more work travel than both Joel and I would ever want or need. I flew off to Nashville and Portland, and Joel went on his every six-week trip to London and Paris. And if that travel wasn’t enough, weeks later in April, we flew to California to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday, and where I surprised him with tickets and an overnight stay at Disneyland. While we didn’t get to ride as many rides as I would have hoped, spending the day with him, creating memories there together, laughing on rides, drinking wine in California Adventure, and walking around the park is something I will cherish forever. From there we celebrated Passover with Joel’s family, and then I made my way to Denver to kick off the launch of my new – and largest team in my career – my “go-to-market” team where I oversee 15 employees leading our PMO, change, communications, planning, and enablement functions for HR.
And then, just like that, Joel and I were off to a much-needed vacation. Having cancelled our South America trip in 2020 due to COVID we were very eager to rebook it and make our way south. I was also extremely eager to check off another wonder of the world from my list. Without going into too much detail, as I know Joel recapped it beautifully already – the trip was just a dream. I have so many fond memories of us eating and laughing during beautiful meals in Sao Paulo, seeing Christ the Redeemer in Rio, and enjoying tea and cocktails at the Palace in Buenos. I giggle thinking about our faces on the raft at the Iguazu Falls and relishing every moment in our multi-coursed meal at Aramburu.
May was our first chance to settle in, and we did it in style. We made our annual trip with Frasier to the Hamptons where we enjoyed a glorious sunny day at the pristine East Hampton Beach and enjoyed some wine and music at a local vineyard. I also was blessed by my work, which ended up paying for and acquiring an office for me in the city. This office not only allows me to bring Frasier but is a refuge from being in my apartment all day – every day – which as wonderful as it sounds, can be a bit confining at times. Being out with people, and in new scenery does something for the soul and has been a huge gift for me.
At the beginning of June, our travel continued, and we were off to Asia. First to Tokyo for a leadership offsite for me, and then off to Taipei and Seoul. This was another fabulous vacation for Joel and me. I didn’t think I would enjoy Tokyo as much as I did the second time around. The great sushi and eats Joel booked for us, the time at Disneyland and exploring new elements of the city was fabulous. Then, being able to visit new countries like Taiwan and South Korea was magical. I can still feel Joel and I painting our lantern and lifting it to the sky in Taipei or me setting off the alarm in a local museum. I wish I was sitting back at Jungsik right now with Joel in Seoul, walking the temples, or reliving the experience of the DMZ. Seoul is most definitely a city I would return to and anticipate writing about again in the future.
July and August remained relatively quiet, as they usually do. Holly came out and visited in July, which was so much fun. We drank probably more than we should, and enjoyed a wonderful night on the town, listening to jazz, and enjoying some deliciously deceptive cocktails. How I wish she lived out here so we could hang out all the time! August brought us another year around the sun, where we celebrated Joel and I’s birthdays in some new and favorite local eateries – or should I say fine dining establishments for Joel. We closed August with a weekend getaway to Portland, Maine – a new city and state for us, that did not disappoint. Whether it was walking the local streets, checking out art galleries and bookstores, eating their famous seafood and donuts, or driving to a “local” winery – every moment of that trip was beautiful and so needed for Joel and me to just connect, unplug from work and just be with one another.
And then September came, and our lives changed forever. Jake came out for his second, and I think the best visit to date. We enjoyed the best NYC has to offer from food, drinks, sights, and shows. We even made our way out to the North Fork and enjoyed some new wineries and tunes along the way. I love it when Jake visits and am so grateful we got two visits from him in one year. It was only four days after he left us, that Joel and I somewhat unknowingly started the next chapter in our lives. I won’t recap every detail here, as I think I did so, very well, in my favorite memory – the beginning of Elle Maria Szerlip.
Everything from that month on felt like time stood still and at the same time was a blur. After telling our family the good news and taking a wonderful day trip to Universal with Amy and the kiddos, I went off to Denver for another offsite – this time with my directs. And thankfully, it was just them, as my pregnancy started “settling in” and the “morning sickness” became an all-day affair. Naively wishing it was that bad due to elevation, I flew home to find out I had HG. Joel was due for another work trip, and in my condition, my dad was kind enough to fly out and take care of me. I think this was one of my favorite visits with him. Although it was more of a “home-bound” trip we had so much fun together watching Aliens, Tremors, and just talking and laughing with one another. I can’t thank him enough for taking care of me and Frasier and just “being” with us while my body made a baby at lightning speed.
November quickly came and we were off taking our normal family Christmas photos in Central Park – although this time, with a new addition, an ultrasound photo to announce to the world we were starting a family. Weeks later, we found out the biggest blessing of all – that our little baby was a girl, and we began planning for our future with Elle. This included buying new furniture, books, and everything baby.
We closed the year at home. Not wanting to chance illness or put Elle at risk with all the travel and fatigue, we opted for a NYC Christmas with Frasier. This was the first season in over six years, I was not traveling somewhere and was able to fully enjoy our beautiful Christmas decorations, create memories and traditions with Joel and Frasier, and really rest and relax. While I missed seeing family, I couldn’t be more grateful for this time. After such a whirlwind of a year, waking up to Joel and Frasier on Christmas morning in our bed, and with Elle in my belly, was everything I could have asked for and more.
The last day of the year, I kind of joke is the most crucial as it is the indicator of the year to come. If New Year’s Eve is any indication of what 2024 has in store – I cannot wait for it.
But I also write this terrified of what’s next. Praying God will bless us with a healthy, beautiful, smart, and kind baby girl. Praying that God will grant me a smooth pregnancy and delivery. And praying that God will walk with me and help me become a wonderful mom.
I also write this excited. Excited for the next chapter in our lives, to meet Elle, and embark on this beautiful journey together.
I truly believe the best is yet to come. So, here is to the best year yet: 2024.
