South San Francisco, CA March 24, 2021
To say this past year has been a challenge is an understatement, yet we know there was some silver lining within the clouds, and it appears many South Citians agree! We asked ‘What are some of the highlights of your past year, what things went well for you?’ in our GAME ON contest last week and the responses were very uplifting, and we thank our neighbors for sharing their highlights with us all.
First, we’d like to announce our TWO lucky winners, who were randomly chosen to receive a dinner for two, compliments of Dominic’s Cater Outs. This fantastic Cioppino dinner is complete with salad, sourdough french bread, and the Cioppino is filled with crab legs, scallops, clams, and prawns! And strawberry Tiramisu for dessert! Congratulations to our two winners –
– Jeannine Solis
-Karen Porter
(Please contact us at [email protected] so we can coordinate your dinners!)
We had over 35 people respond to our GAME ON sharing what went well in their world this past year!
We share them with you now knowing that their uplifting experiences can lift us all up!
COMMENTS via website
**What are some of the highlights of your past year, what things went good for you?”
Got married Nov 2020 and had an excuse to make it a small gathering in the backyard, so we used our budget to paint the house! Really — it was perfect, mask and distance safe, gave something to look forward to all during COVID-19 and there was even a wedding donkey.
-Adele Rios
**The best part of the past year was working from home and spending time with my kids while they did remote learning. I also enjoyed starting a small garden of edible greens in my backyard Pandemic Haiku:
Staying home all year
Working and learning at home
Grateful for our health
-Karen Wilsey
**Started a fantastic new job counseling special Ed adolescents.
–Dean Paquette
**In the last year my brother got married and my sister had her second baby!
–Amy
** I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy!
– Sarah
**The highlight of my year was the birth of my daughter Emersyn Reign, February 25th 2020. My girlfriend was hospitalized for two weeks before being induced and giving birth to our daughter 6 weeks early. After a short stay in the NICU she was able to come home with us right before the shelter in place order began. 3 weeks after being home I got Covid-19 and had to quarantine, that was rough to say the least but survived it without getting my baby or girlfriend sick. Thank god.
-Gus
** My husband had his second successful heart surgery in February. At this time they were allowing visitors to see patients and loved ones. I was able to stay and sleep in the hospital with him. I don’t know what I would have done if I could not visit for the 10 days that he was admitted. Feeling blessed.
-Karen Porter
**I was able to graduate from SFSU with a degree in broadcasting after overcoming mental health issues that were holding me back.
-Priscilla C
**Friends and family that were ill with COVID all survived. That is the biggest blessing in my life. Not just 2020.
-Marie
**Had my first Grandchild in 2019 but in 2020 the fun really began. My wife and I started taking care of our granddaugther in early 2020. After having 3 sons, all grown up now, was a total different experience taking care of a little baby girl. Covid-19 kept us home for most of 2020, but in reality we didn’t mind as our granddaughter made us forget that there was actually a pandemic out there.
-Will Valle
**I didn’t get sick from covid worked with elderly as a caregiver
-Chas Carantes
**Under the circumstances being a single mother was a kid with disabilities I managed to survive and keep myself and my son healthy And alive while still working full-time I’m an essential worker. Also by the grace of God I was able to achieve an award for doing such a great job last year and a bonus so that being said I feel really really blessed and I have got to thank for that. For me that’s a big deal.
-Celia Solorio
**Highlights: after living independently my 90-YO mother has returned to SSF and now living with me – best part is I get to enjoy dinner with her every evening!
-Cecile Riborozo
**We had several wonderful highlights over the past year.
Our daughter and son-in-law blessed us with our first, grandchild, Lauren Gianna. She has been a bright light in our lives during the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic and sheltering at home. On a sad note, my father passed away at the age of 96. It was a shock to us as he was healthy. His last day with us was spent adoring his great-granddaughter.
Then, when we hoped for some news to pick up our spirits, our son and daughter-in-law blessed us with a grandson, Sandro Guido. He is also special, as he has my father’s name as his middle name. My son wanted to carry on my father’s name. Now our grandson and I share the same middle name.
So, in the shadow of the pandemic, we have 2 beacons of light with our grandchildren.
-Michael Ghiglieri
** I feel blessed to have worked during the pandemic. My job allowed us to work on site and stay socially distant. Feeling lucky not to have caught this deadly virus.
-Brett P
COMMENTS via emails:
– Jing F.
My husband is a hard worker and works long hours. He is never home for dinner and didn’t get to spend much time with our children. Because of the pandemic and his hours being majorly decreased at work, he has been able to spend time with us more as a family. He is helping the kids with their distance learning and taking them for walks, bike rides and to the beach.Something definitely to be thankful for during the pandemic!
**Hello!As crazy as 2020 was with the pandemic, my husband and I were blessed amongst all the craziness.
After years of trying to get pregnant, then making the tough decision to stop, and putting it behind us, we found out last year in October that we are pregnant.
We are expecting a little boy this June and our beyond excited! We can’t wait to meet our little blessing.
Thank you,
-Karla Ferrufino-Simon
**Highlight this past year was finishing our remodel of our house which took 10 months to do! We started as a 3 bdrm/1.5 bath house and now have a 5 bedroom/2.5 bath house!
**Some of the things that went good for me last year was being able to work from home until I quit my job in October to focus on running my own business full time. Also spending quality time with my baby nephew, trying out a bunch of new recipes, finding new hobbies, and thinking of new ways to spend time with extended family while being quarantined at our own homes.
**It was wonderful to hear the sound of silence once again away from the usual hustle and bustle of a busy competitive world. We were given the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings and the goodness of creation. Life is good once again!
-Edda Policar
**Good Afternoon Everything South City!
Thank you for hosting this amazing contest.
My highlight this past year was and still is all the amazing quality time I have been spending with my nieces and nephews. My brother and sister are both essential front line workers and are not able to stay home with their kids. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home due to the pandemic and have taken them all in for the past year to maintain our social bubble and help flatten the curve.
It’s a full house of seven kids ages 4-14 but there is never a dull moment. I’ve learned so much about each of them and can’t stop telling them how much I love them every day.
These family memories we’ve created have been priceless.
-Barbara Yim
COMMENTS via social media
**“What are some of the highlights of your past year, what things went good for you?” Got married Nov 2020 and had an excuse to make it a small gathering in the backyard, so we used our budget to paint the house! Really — it was perfect, mask and distance safe, gave something to look forward to all during COVID-19 and there was even a wedding donkey.
– Adele Escoto
**A highlight this year is my job and company are both thriving and how blessed that is in this current climate. Also the family have all remained Covid free and heathy through the year!
– Mark Wills
**Good things this past year were having a job through the pandemic and my son’s wedding. It was a beautiful day in Moraga. Sadly, though, my mother went and joined my father in heaven. Even though it was sad, and still is, her funeral mass was a lovely warm winter day in Pacifica. My family is grateful to have had them for as long as we did.
Donna Moore Fentanes
**I am so lucky that I got to keep my job through all of this, and I helped rescue a tiny feral kitten, who is now the love of my life!
–Karen Davenport
**I worked through the pandemic. I tested, Negative. And I got the Vaccine!! What a Blessing
-Christopher Archuleta (IG)