As we rapidly approach 2009, some of us are wondering what happened to 2008 as we seem to have changed to that calendar only recently. Although time seems to pass faster when we have less of it, we know that it moves just as it always has. It hasn’t changed it stride even if we have changed ours.

Well, if we follow that logic, we might think time would pass more slowly because we move at a snail’s pace compared to our movements of our youth. Time and logic just don’t seem to go together some days!

We are seeing many television programs which recount the highlights of the year and read many articles about the important happenings, but we tend to look at 2008 through our own eyes.

Yes, we had elections and campaigning endlessly, and we were finally told the obvious — that we are in a recession. Of course, all of that is important to history, but we prefer to think for ourselves and consider the highlights in our own lives.

Some of us had a good year with very few bad days; others had a bad year with very few good days.

Those of us who had the good year certainly consider ourselves very fortunate and hope that we can look forward to another good year in 2009.
 Those who had a bad year look forward to next year in hopes they will have a better year and that memories of the bad times will become less painful.

As I have said through these many years, I am one of the most fortunate persons I know because most of my years have been good ones.
Yes, some have contained hard times, but those have been made tolerable because of friends who have been around to lighten the load and to see me through such times.

Because I have remained in good health most of the time, I have been able to enjoy good times without having to worry about many aches and pains. Also, because I have generally been able to find something good about each day, I have been able to help those who have not been as fortunate.

Having been pleased with my profession also made most years outstanding. A teacher cannot be among young people without inheriting some of their hopes and dreams and without being a part of their fun and laughter.

That profession has continued to make life great even though I have not been in front of a class in a number of years. Those former students and the young friends I have made in the interim have helped each year to be special. They have kept me looking forward to each new year in order to watch their progress and to enjoy hearing how they are faring.

As we approach 2009, you might take the time to think about your favorite year and your favorite day in 2008. If we can but look back at good times, we can hope to look forward to good times to come.

Let’s all plan to make 2009 a fine year in our home area as we wish each other “Happy New Year”!

If we do our best, what more can we do?