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End-of-year columns are always
difficult to write, since in the week before and after Christmas absolutely nothing
of interest seems to be going on other than binge shopping at the Premium
Outlets mall. And that’s hardly worth writing about, though it does make you
wonder what now constitutes the spirit of Christmas. Oh, there are the never-ending
clownfests known as Republican debates that are about as interesting as the
lethargy induced by some narcotic overdose. On the other hand, if the rise
and demise of one third-rate candidate after another is of concern to you,
the Republican Party is the venue to visit for toe-tickling comedic
fare. To write yet again about these chuckleheaded
Aristophanic comic heroes, however, is to fill the pickle barrel to the point
of overflowing, seeing that just about every moderate Republican columnist
has pounded them to a pulp for driving the Republican bus right over the
cliff. Yes, best that we move beyond
the GOP’s race to oblivion and concentrate on more upbeat events that the
year 2011 bestowed on us. Like Hurricane Irene. Remember her? What I like about hurricanes is
that, for all our technical advances, they show us that, in the end, it’s
really Mother Nature and her trees who are in charge of this shindig we call
sophisticated life. Windblown falling trees make
kindling out of houses, crush cars, crush people and make hash out of power
lines. And the only thing we can do about it is watch and wonder what’s next.
All our electronic devices become virtually useless, and we’re reduced to
either reading books by battery operated lights or talking directly to
another person, which in more normal days is thought to be about as recherche
as it gets. But perhaps worst of all is
that we have to depend on corporations like Dominion to put things back to
rights. This usually takes several days, if not weeks. And we in Not to be outdone by Mother
Nature, Mother Earth decided to put on her own show in August, when all of a
sudden the ground began to shake for no apparent reason. Then came the news
that there had been an earthquake. In Though historical, it wasn’t
the Big One, but at least we didn’t have to wait for Dominion to restore our
power. Or listen to the Update Lady’s lies. But why don’t they name
earthquakes? Then we could reminisce with amusement about Earthquake Ernie or
Temblor Tony. But we weren’t lacking for
other amusements in 2011. Who can forget the endless flap
over St. Bede’s mausoleums? Or the sweet taste of poetic
justice we savored when Republicans, bent on unseating Democratic candidates
for the Board of Supervisors, redistricted themselves out of a majority on
the board when John McGlennon unexpectedly won the Yes, 2011 was full of
surprises. And I suppose 2012 will be too. Right now, though, all we have to
look forward to is more Republican debates. Happy New Year! |
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lewleadbeater.com Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved email: LWL@lewleadbeater.com |
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