I’m gonna guess that the last time we all wanted to be a year older - to get 2020 over with and finally in the rearview mirror - is when we were kids.
The end of the year feels like a good time to check in on how everybody is doing. So I’ve created a “check-in” survey, which is just 3 multiple-choice questions. You can complete it in less than a minute, and if you do, I’ll send you a personalized New Year’s wish for 2021. I’ll even send it in the actual mail, if you live in the US. (Sorry for those elsewhere - the international mail is such a mess these days that you might not get it until 2022!)
You can find the survey here: Build Notes Check-In
Thank you so much for subscribing to Hope Notes and then Build Notes this year. It’s an absolute honor to write to you. I hope that the end of this year brings you some opportunities for quiet comfort, for a little bit of rest.
Update on the Shedd Penguins
All the way back in the very first edition of Hope Notes, I reported on the penguins from Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium being let loose to have the run of the place since the aquarium was closed to visitors. Those penguins have spent the rest of this year visiting landmarks in Chicago, and the results are as great as you would expect (video is 1 minute):
Tiny Desk Goes Off
NPR Music has been hosting “Tiny Desk” acoustic concerts in their Washington offices for many years. When The Thing arrived this year, the office concerts had to take a break. In their place, the Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts series arrived, and is absolutely bursting at the seams with music from lots of big names. Right now it feels like they’re releasing a new video about every 20 minutes. (It’s more like once a day, but still.)
It will be great when they can reopen the offices and host musicians to perform in front of NPR Music’s charmingly overstuffed Ikea bookshelves. It’s also great that we’ve all learned how to produce and enjoy creative work in a way that makes time and space much less important. Believe me, I’m looking forward to my two shots in the arm and my first in-person concert in the After times. But the ways in which people have adapted are quirky, and fun, and worth appreciating while we’re here.
You can look for your favorites in the complete list of Tiny Desk Home Concerts on YouTube. Meantime, here is one of mine. You may not be familiar with Chloe x Halle, but if you’ve ever loved Motown music, give this a minute or two (full video 20 minutes):
And Finally…
Let’s take it home for the year with an old favorite - here is “Joy” by George Winston on the piano, from his classic album December. (3 minutes)
Build Notes will be back in January. Enjoy your winter break.
- Michael
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