It was the best of times and the worst of times in our world,
nation, state, city and home. For me, the highlights and lowlights
of 2005 include
…
It was the best of times and the worst of times in our world, nation, state, city and home. For me, the highlights and lowlights of 2005 include…
Pope John Paul giving his last blessing and hearing God say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your master’s rest.” I treasure images of this humble man giving an audience to Gilroy’s Marge Albaugh (coordinator of St. Joseph’s for years)… delivering speeches in the rain… embracing a young boy with aids. He was a living symbol of conciliation, redemption and unconditional love. Heaven’s gain was our world’s loss.
Will our nation ever forget the horrific images spawned by Katrina? We saw families crouched on roof tops begging for help. Senior citizens with cardboard strapped to their feet in place of the shoes swept away by floodwaters. A young boy waiting for food and water while standing in front of a blanket draped corpse. I hope we heal—but, I hope we never forget.
Reports said that the turnout for California’s hotly contested election were good for a non-presidential year but I don’t agree. Juxtaposing our voting lethargy with images of elderly Iraqi women holding up their purple stained fingers reminds me how little respect we have for our voting rights and responsibilities in this great, free land.
The Garlic Capitol of the world had some significant moments in 2006 as well. Fortunately no earthquakes or hurricanes but some of our streets were transformed forever for better or worse.
North Santa Teresa is almost finished and looks mighty fine with its 10,000 bushes and trees. South Santa Teresa has a glut of new houses. Even firm believers in modernity have to admit that it hurts to see those beautiful hills carved up for massive homes and gated communities.
Miller residents fought developers and lost their valiant battle over the subdivision project. Anyone who wonders why ordinary folks don’t like to expend volunteer hours in the political arena can take a quick peek at their sad story to see why.
More stores opened on the south east end of town and 10th Street traffic became the new city nightmare. All that wonderful shopping and no easy way to get there. Even with the projected Arroyo Circle bridge, getting to all of those big box stores looks to be a permanent problem.
The Evans home saw some changes as well. Our in-laws lived with us for six months, 11 days and seven and half hours (not that anyone was counting). In some ways, the worst of times and in many other ways, the best.
I have great memories of riding the trains all day because dad had free tickets, going to PacBell park to see the Giants one more time before dad moved to Oregon, putting together a puzzle with a thousand pieces that were all almost the same color and shape, telling Walter Mitty style stories while we watched the history channel, and teaching ourselves how to play Texas Holdem’ from a “Texas Holdem’s for Dummies” game I bought in town.
I won’t miss the boxes and furniture piled to the 10 foot ceiling in my living room. I won’t miss the discussions about whether an 80 degree inside temperature means turning on the air conditioner or the heater. But I already miss dad’s watch beeping every hour on the hour, reminding us that time is passing and we need to live each minute of it.
I miss shopping with mom, getting our nails done and puttering around in the kitchen together even if she likes things sifted and measured exactly and I’m a by-guess-and-by-golly kind of cook.
And, I already know I’ll miss being up all night for those emergency room visits because I’m convinced it’s easier to accept health crises when you’re standing in the middle of them than when you’re hearing about them over the phone.
There are many other unforgettable images wrapped inside the signed, sealed and delivered package called 2005. Some are sweet and some are bitter. Some are sad and some are hilarious. Some are gingerbread fluff and others are character changing experiences. But what is, is. There’s no more time to gather, edit, adapt or subtract.
Now, drum roll please, it’s time to start filling 2006. May even its worst moments teach us lessons we’ll never forget; may the good ones make us smile forever.
