thanks to, lbnass, i have been going through my waaaaay old livejournal lately. i found this post that lists ten things at any given period in my life that make me happy - things that vary from serious to silly. here’s a current list of 10 things that bring me joy, though i’m sure my list could go on & on (hence why my list goes to 11). what brings you joy?

august 2012

1. my thirties!

2. pilsen. life in pilsen. home.

3. my mom’s strength

4. allison. always.

5. footy. the fact that i’m 32 and somehow i’m still managing to play a contact sport on a very regular basis.

6. toyota park. the team, energy, friendships, memories that i’m surrounded by when i’m there.

7. momiji dolls

8. pink sparkling moscato 

9. new beginnings

10.  nass attack » reconnecting » the vodka i have in her freezer

11. b

****

(december 2007)
10 things that bring me joy::
1. soccer, the chicago fire, etc
2. vinyl toys  (rotofugi)
3. lemony snickets & young adult fiction
4. living solo
5. my gold cleats
6. pilsen
7. wax wax waxxxxxing
8. vegan chocolate peanut butter ice cream
9. new friendships, new people
10. az or bust!

****

(too bad i currently feel quite the opposite of joy, maybe this is an awful time for me to fill out this survey. i’m overwhelmingly stressed with work, money, and my current love life. on another side of things, maybe this will cheer me up. ready. go.)

earlier in 2007
10 things that bring me joy::
1. allison kt hack (always & forever, even when she’s an awful pain)
2. sarah m and her nuturing ways
3. sara hops and our growing friendship
4. beth and how easy things seem to fall into our friendship so naturally
5. waxxxxxing (bikini, brazilian)
6. vegan chocolate peanut butter ice cream 
7. living solo
8. pilsen
9. sweetness fc/playing soccer
10. my big sister relationship with tiff (she’s the big sis, not me)
11. my new found friendship with katie q
12. chicago fire/toyota park/blanco/chirs rolfe/matt pickens
13. arizona or bust

(my list, which exceeds 10, seems boring to me this time around. hmph.)

****

july 2006:
10 things that bring me joy::
1. allison kt hack
2. playing lots of soccer & drinking less/being hungover less
3. my ever evolving friendship with sarah, beth, and sara
4. mr. mitchell l
5. having a job with amazing benefits— free grad school & health benefits!
6. becoming a grown up.
7. pedicures!
8. peach vodka
9. my birthday (soon to be coming up)
10. kindness & manners

****

november 2005:
10 things that bring me joy::
1. allison kt hack
2. playing soccer/watching soccer/the chicago fire/soccer in general
3. matte lattes (especially on days like today)
4. creativity
5. my evolving friendship w/ sarah, beth, & sara and so many countless others
(you know if your name should be included here)
6. living across the hall from john
7. first kisses
8. learning from others & teaching others
9. compassion, kindness, & caring— in general
10. new haircuts

Another beautiful tribute to my father. So proud of my sister (photo below), cousins, friends and coworkers for participating.  I was choked up supporting on the sidelines.

Article here.

****

Tinley Park’s Vivian Hack paused before walking through the doors of the Orland Park Sportsplex with her friends and family March 6.

See, that was supposed to be the day that her daughter, Allison, and husband, Allen, were going to run in the Village of Orland Park’s ninth annual indoor duathlon event while she and her other daughter, Nicole, watched.

Allen, who had recently lost 100 pounds over the past two years, trained hard for the event. He had never participated in a duathlon before and was serious about tag-teaming with his daughter to compete in 2010.

But after a workout on a treadmill at the Sportsplex on Valentine’s Day, the 58-year-old had a heart attack and died.

Less than three weeks later, Vivian Hack walked from the parking lot to the door to the facility for the first time since the tragedy.

“It was difficult,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could go in.”

But she did go in. She walked up the steps to the second floor, where the event was being held.

And she watched and cheered wildly as 24-year-old Allison, wearing a t-shirt that said “For you, Dad” on the front and “Lil’ Al” on the back, ran 1.5 miles on the track, pedaled 10 miles on a stationary bike and ran 1.5 more miles in a time of 45 minutes, 43 seconds.

Allison had no reservations about returning to the facility.

“I was ready to go in,” she said. “I worked out there for three or four years. I don’t want to let anything stop me from working out and staying active. I know my dad wouldn’t want that.”

Allison, who works for the village of Orland Park as an assistant supervisor in the recreation department and an assistant gymnastics coach at Andrew High School, wasn’t alone in the race. She said she felt the presence of her late father as well as the support of those at the event.

“I definitely wanted to do this for my dad no matter what,” Allison said. “We did basically everything together. We worked out. We played golf. To race with my cousins and his co-workers and friends was just an awesome experience. I can’t believe how many people showed up.

“I feel his spirit is there and will always be there,” Allison added. “I tried to focus on the race but after it was over, it hit me a little more.”

It was an emotional day all around. Allen Hack worked at the Andrew Corporation for 33 years and became a regular at the Sportsplex in recent years.

Deborah Geghen, who headed up the duathlon event for the village, said Hack’s death had an impact on the Sportsplex staff.

“They felt like they had a special bond with Al,” she said. “He knew everybody here by their first name. He was just a very likable person. Very genuine. They all miss seeing him here.”

Hack’s popularity extended beyond his family and community friends. He was an avid soccer fan and was a fixture of the Section 8 Chicago Fire fan group.

Former Chicago Fire general manager and current Chicago Red Stars GM Peter Wilt wrote a tribute to Hack in a blog on international soccer Web site pitchinvasion.net.

“To me, Al represents a generation of Americans who helped escort soccer from the dark ages of the sport in the 1980s to today’s relatively enlightened era…” Wilt wrote. “Long lines of mourners snaked around the funeral home for more than five hours to pay tribute to this wonderful man.

“While Al has passed, his wonderful memory lives on in all who were fortunate to share a beer, a cheer and a laugh. His individual legacy will live on in Vivian, Allison, Nicole and his countless friends, but he is also part of a generation whose legacy was largely unforeseen 20 years ago.”

Allison said Wilt was not exaggerating about the five-hour wait at the wake.

“Unfortunate things happen to good people,” she said. “It was a definite shock. He was a popular guy. He’s getting even more attention now. He would be so happy.”

After being able to finally walk through the Sportsplex doors to watch Allison compete, Vivian felt better. She felt some closure during the race.

“I feel like his spirit is truly here,” Vivian said. “And I will always feel good when I come here that he’s still around.”

By Jeff Vorva