What to say about 2012? I dunno – I guess like any year it had its blessings and its curses. As the years go by I find it ever harder to distinguish one year from the next anymore. You end the year on the “green side of the sod” (as my grandfather used to say), it must have been good; otherwise, it wasn’t so good, was it?
While there are some nice memories that 2012 will always have – The Beach Boys’ new album and seeing their 50th anniversary concert tour during our weekend in Vegas probably tops the list, followed by the switch from Cobra golf clubs to Callaway after two pleasant visits to Las Vegas come to mind. Bottom line is, we here at The Great White Shank’s postage stamp of a hacienda came through this year in good health and fully employed (something not everyone can say, for sure). Of course, on the other side of the ledger we lost another rabbit, making it five straight years of losing a furry member of our family. Gosh, that’s a streak I wouldn’t mind breaking in 2013…
I don’t know what you can say about years turning over anymore. All one can do is hope for the best and cope with the rest, control what you have control over and deal with what you can’t. It’s important to cherish the small things: the sound of rain falling in the swimming pool (as it is now), the sound of palm tree branches rustling in the breeze, a hot cup of coffee on the patio in the morning, a little nitecap under cool moonlight when the rest of the world seems asleep, the ear for music my parents gave me, rescuing helpless bugs out of the swimming pool when I’m able to, having the luxury of whacking a few golf balls out in the fresh air, being able to use the bathroom every morning without someone (or something) to assist. I mean, I get it – I’ve never taken for granted the stuff most people do. Good health, a job, food on the table, clean water to drink, a circle of loving friends and family. It means the world to me. I don’t know what that makes me, exactly, but I’m not going to worry about it. At least not much.
Attitude is everything, I suppose, and Michael at TheEconomicCollapse blog is right when he writes that, no matter how dour things might look and portend:
Things may be falling apart all around us, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have a great year even in the midst of all the chaos.
Indeed.
Finally, before I call it another year, I would like to say to all who continue to make Goodboys Nation weblog a part of your daily Internet surfing experience, a big “thank you!” for your patronage and comments. Like I said this same day a year ago, I have a feeling the next year is going to be a rough sled, but hopefully I’ll be here to tell it all as I see it. Maybe a year from now we can all look back and say, “there, there, Great White Shank, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” One can only hope. To all of you and your families, my best wishes and prayers for the happiest and healthiest of New Years.
OK, enough. As is custom every year at this time we say, take us outta here, George!