Looking Back on 2014

As I prepare to close out another calendar cycle, I thought it would be good to reflect back on a year that has been personally pretty great. Last December I had a recap post as well, so to continue the tradition, here is a look back on 2014 and a look ahead to a promising 2015.

I started 2014 with a trip to Los Angeles, then meetings in Montevideo, Uruguay and a much needed vacation in Montevideo & Buenos Aires. In February there was a short hop to London, the first of several I made throughout the year. In the month of March I completed a circuit around the globe, beginning with talks in Moscow and continuing to our big international meeting in Singapore. Along the way I celebrated a milestone birthday with good friends on several occasions. Those are memories I'll keep.

The month of April provided a visit to Culpeper for work, a discovery of cool street art, and UN meetings in New York. This trip also provided my first ever visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the best in the world. The month of June included a big international meeting in London, followed by a family vacation to Montana to celebrate the wedding of a great friend.

July and August included meetings in LA, and a quick trip to London, while September included my first visit to Azerbaijan, with a stopover in Kyiv on the return flight. In October, our 3rd big international meeting was at the Century Plaza in LA. November took me to Cairo and Beirut, Lebanon on the same trip, followed by Thanksgiving in Columbia, South Carolina with family. December closed out my travels with a return trip to Azerbaijan for the 2nd Regional Internet Governance Forum.

From a family history standpoint, 2014 brought many discoveries. Other members of the family had their DNA tests done, and this has also helped share the interest in family history stories. We're awaiting results from my Mom's two sisters, and perhaps this will help break through the brick wall on the Cain family of my 2nd-great-grandmother Mary Alice Cain Read. My Christmas Project photo books turned out great for my parents, giving them something to hold showing their trees and DNA results.

I have an incredible amount to be thankful for this year. 2015 looks to continue the pace of 2014, and I welcome the things to come. I'll close this post with a photo from New Year's Eve 2013, wishing good health and good fortune for the year.

Photo by Patrick Jones. 31 Dec 2013.