The calendar has rolled around to a new month, and with it, a new year.
As you read this, 2023 is but a few days old — just an infant as years go.
For as long as I can remember, I try to write a column imagining some headlines I would like to read in the new year.
Looking back on 2022, it held both good and bad as all of them do. I was overjoyed to see the Dawgs win it all and work on perhaps going back to back as National Champions. More on that in a minute. I was disappointed that our politics continues to be a race to the toilet. Why can’t we live up to the words of our creed and in our name. Why can’t we try to form a “more perfect union” and be the “United” States of America.
The COVID virus is still around, but thank the Lord it is not as prevalent as it once was. I survived it in January, though I felt poorly for a few days. I am thankful it was no worse than it was. In 2020 and 2021, I conducted a number of funerals of those who died from the virus. If you are one of those folks who still keep saying it is fake, please just stop it already. I hope you will join me in praying that the Lord will remove this awful scourge from our world.
I am optimistic that things will be better tomorrow than they are today. Pretty soon, all those tomorrows will turn in to yesterdays. Eventually, looking back, I hope we can say that all those days in 2023 added up to a good year.
So, in hopes of a good year, I continue my custom of sharing with you a few headlines I’d like to see in this brand new year:
• The United States of America is our name: I keep holding out hope that one day this will be true. I get that millions of people don’t like anyone on the other side of their personal ideology. But please, folks, we have got to do better. Yes, we can disagree vehemently and battle over policy and ideas, but can we please just all get along? Honestly, if Biden, Schumer and Pelosi don’t really inspire confidence or competence, it is also true that Trump, McConnell and McCarthy don’t either. We can do this. America has always pulled together to work for the common good, to make tomorrow better than today and to be good and kind and decent. We can do it again. The Lord gives a very simple, but hard command: Love one another. It really is that simple. Love one another. Any questions?
• Dawgs repeat as champions, Falcons, Braves and Bears have championship years, too: Wouldn’t it be great for the Dawgs to repeat as National Champions! How magnificent it would be and to know Stetson “The Mailman” Bennett IV was leading the team. We need to get the Falcons going once again. This year was not good at all. The Braves made a run at it in 2022. I was fortunate to share the experience of seeing a game in person in the Braves vs. Mets series for the pennant and share it with my Daddy and my family. I hope they will again in 2023. The Bears (and my alma mater, the Appling County Pirates) had a good run at the state championship this year. Here’s hoping the 2023 season will see them at the finish line.
• Self checkouts fail and customer service returns: I don’t like self checkouts. At the store the other day, my cousin urged me to go through the self checkout. When I declined, she asked me why. “I don’t work here,” I replied. Besides, Wal-Mart unceremoniously disemployed me on Dec. 23 30 years ago. I should get over it, I guess. One way would be for everyone to return to good old fashioned customer service. One good place to find that is with your local businesses. Shop local.
• Chocolate chip cookies declared nutritious: If we can put a man on the moon and invent marvelous creations like Doritos® and Zax sauce®, then surely there is some way that chocolate chip cookies are good for you. They are good to me. Especially, when I am devouring them.
• 2023 is the best year ever.
I hope 2023 is the best year ever for you and me and for all those we love.
Happy New Year!
• Jason Deal is a staff writer for The Blackshear Times. Reach him at [email protected].
