20 Things About You at Age 20

 

1. The continued pandemic restrictions have continued to mess with your plans of global travel.  But maybe more time to research where to go and refine your lists isn't such a bad thing.  
2. One interesting development is that Uncle Jim figured out how to apply for Italian/EU dual citizenship via Great-Grandma Enea's naturalization papers.  It's a pretty involved process but it looks like it is going to work.  How cool would it be to be able to live and work in Europe someday?  I would love that to happen for you.
3. You opted not to return to UB.  That frustrates Dad, which in turn frustrates you.  But I have every confidence that you will figure it all out and you will be fine.
4. You are going out with friends again and doing more things out of the house.  Being vaccinated and boosted helped everyone feel better about doing things again while still being safe.
5. Finally getting your license also helped!  You are a confident driver (but maybe a little heavy on the gas like your mom!) and you can back into the garage like a pro.
6. You really want to take Paul out for a snack or ice cream now that you can drive.  You offer to go to the store or run errands.
7. You are still a gamer.  Digital & Analog. Weekly D&D nights with your cousins are still happening & another night with friends.  You are often coding and making your own games.  You will meet a friend at Panera with your chess board or he will bring one of his games.  
8. You have a part-time job with Lakeshore School Supplies, delivering and putting together furniture and other items for local schools.  You got promoted to supervisor!  It slows down in the winter so you are looking for other work at the moment to pick up the slack.  You did go and help Uncle Mike with his setup of the building that will eventually become his sandwich shop.  And you figured out what was wrong with his snowblower and fixed that for him.
9. Speaking of summer jobs, you are thinking of applying for summer work in Hoonah.  They're going to have 90+ cruise ships stopping there this summer so the community is getting ramped up for action again after the pandemic downturn.  It would be neat for you to go back there to live again as an adult.  Our local friends would also appreciate your help.
10. You do a lot around the house without being asked. During a recent snow day you took charge of keeping the driveway clear so Dad didn't have to and you also went and introduced yourself to the new neighbor and helped him clear his driveway.  We are grateful for your help!
11. Like Dad you don't seem to feel the cold when outdoors but you love wearing the microwave heating pad around the house.  Dad gave us some more for Christmas so we don't have to share!
12. We continue to love watching GBBO together!  I love how you give everyone a funny nickname until we've gotten far enough into the season to remember their names.  We always discuss if a bake is worth trying ourselves or not.  You are a willing taste tester!
13. You are still an inventive cook and this year you have explored spices and flavor combinations. You made soup the other day that had us all starving after smelling it on the stove all day. Fake chicken nuggets are still your go-to snack, but French fries also get made a lot.  For dinners you love fajitas, red curry Thai chicken and yellow rice.. A turkey sub with every veggie on offer is also a popular choice.
14. Your hair is quite long now, which straightens out your curls.  To me it looks like a gorgeous lion's mane!  
15. You are often humming or singing when you think no one can see or hear.  (but Moms see & hear everything and we have the pictures and recordings to prove it!).  
16. You like listening to ASMR videos while you work.
17. You still love a hoodie and a leather jacket. 
18. You still love art and anime and all kinds of creative endeavors.  You were super happy that the Ghibli Chalkfest came back to the North Park.  (There's a Ghibli theme park opening in Japan this year...)
19. You pay attention and give really thoughtful gifts.
20. You are always aware of what time it is on school days and are at the door to greet your brother as soon as he gets off the bus.  You always stop what you are doing and hang out on the couch with him for awhile.  Until he tells you to get lost LOL  You always know what he is trying to tell you.

1. You love being back to in-person school with your friends.  Your teacher calls you "the Mayor of North" and reports that a walk through the hall is all fist bumps and high fives.  
2. You also go to the Harkness Center for half the day.  You are finally settling in there and letting the teachers see your personality now.
3. Your most recent district internship was with Spot Coffee and you *loved* it.  Especially using the dish sanitizer.  Your Harkness internship was cleaning at one of Russell's hotels and you didn't love that so much.  Next up: BJ's and a grocery store.  I think you will like both of those.
4. You have been great at mask wearing this whole time.  We had to recently switch things up because the cotton ones we had just weren't fitting your face all of a sudden.  But we found some fun KN95s that work great. We were super relieved when you were able to get vaccinated and you got boosted as soon as you were eligible.  So far no scares, quarantines or other close calls. 
5. In other health news, your thyroid is still good & your cholesterol has come down also.
6. Special Olympics bowling is happening, as is Unified Bowling with school.  You love having your own ball and shoes.  You often break 100.  You love bowling with your friends and teammates.  
7. You are looking forward to Unified Basketball starting up in the spring too.
8. Adaptive Swim just started up again and you were SO happy to get back in the water!
9. Your teacher started a Unified Club after school once a month just so you can all do some social things and that has been a lot of fun.
10. Your recital piece for dance this year is going to be Pirates and all the guys are very excited about that.  And even better, Miss Robin said there will be a sword fight!
11. Your brother asks you every day if you want to go out for ice cream or a hot dog.  Right now you keep saying no because you don't believe it is legal for him to drive by himself.  LOL 
12. You came home from school the other day with a huge container of pickles that Mrs. T. made just for you.  You were thrilled!  I love that they all take care of you and know you so well.  Those are still your favorite snack, along with craisins and meat sticks.
13. You got a bunch of new shirts recently and already have a few favorites that you reach for as soon as they are out of the wash, a teal Henley and an orange one.  And you love showing your school spirit with your North shirts.  And of course the hat of the day.
14. Orange still seems to be your favorite color.
15. You don't let a day go by without listening to Celine Dion and Cher.  We have long conversations about how pretty Cher's hair is and all of Celine's sparkly show outfits.  You would love to see either of them in concert.  Which might involve a trip to Vegas... 
16. We just found out that you can go to two respite weekends at Cradle Beach this year and that is very exciting.  The notice is on the refrigerator and you remind me every day that you can go twice.  We hope you will also be able to go for a week in the summer with Kiwanis.
17. If you know I'm going to the grocery store, you start giving me a list of things to get.  Meatloaf is always at the top of the list!
18. You love planning what we are getting for take-out on the weekends.  
19. You are probably more attached to your iPads than is good for you.  We have to refocus your attention at meal times and bedtime, especially on the weekends when you have a lot of free time.  
20. I always get a hug when you're passing through on your way to get a snack or switch iPads. You and Dad will hang out on the couch in the morning and get a few extra winks in while waiting for the bus to arrive.  But Mark gets the lion's share of hugs and you always look for him first.