Here's to 2017

by Beth Alexander Walsh

Dear 2016,

     Bye bye! Adios! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 

     You have been a wretched year. 

     In January, you had me mourning the loss of my friend Mary. She must have known how awful you would be because she left before the clock struck twelve on New Year’s Eve. I have tried to carry Mary’s spirit through trying times. Her terminal diagnosis never curtailed her LIVING her life with joy and purpose.

    In February, you took my brother in law Dan away from his wife and two children. His battle with the cruel disease of Multiple Myeloma was heroic and I have watched those same heroic traits in his family as they navigate through life’s milestones without him.

    There have been other losses of people close to family members and friends. I pray that the memories of their loved ones give them comfort. My Winter Street Writing colleague Ken, also passed. I miss the stories and humor he brought to our meetings.

   If this weren’t enough 2016, you gave us shootings in Dallas and Florida and the Bastille Day attack in Nice. The bombings in Aleppo were cruel and inhumane. Don’t even get me started on Brexit and Zika. To add insult to injury you took David Bowie, Prince, Glen Frye, Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman and Mohamed Ali and at the eleventh-hour Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds!!   

  I must tell you 2016, the last straw was the Presidential election. Never in my lifetime have I seen such a divisive and hateful campaign. By November you left me sad and exhausted. So, 2016, you must go! I hereby banish you to the history books and hope the conflict you have wrought will turn into resolutions to make our country and world a better place.

Signed,

A Worn-Out American

Dear 2017,

     Welcome!!  I just put up a new calendar on my fridge to honor you. All those empty white squares are full of possibilities! I hope you were taking notes of 2016’s escapades. We don’t need any repeats from last year.

I am giving you the benefit of the doubt 2017. I hope you don’t let me down and I promise to do my part with the following resolutions:

1. I will not give into fear of the future. Fear solves nothing.

2. While I will not give into fear, it does not mean that I will not be awake and aware of all that is going on in my city, state, country and world.

3. I will find gratitude every day and joy in the ordinary.

4. I will read and write more!!

5. I will take the opportunity to learn something new every day.

6. I will pray for our new President every day;

    -that he will be a president to ALL Americans.

    -that he puts country above himself

    -that he has patience and self-control in dealing with other nations.

    -that he be a custodian to our great lands and that clean water and air are not a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder.

    -that he realizes that health care should be a right for every citizen and not subject to the greed and profit of corporations.

I’m counting on you 2017.

Signed,

A Hopeful American