On the Last Day

It’s the last day of the year. Is it a time to reminisce? Or a time to look forward? Or neither? Or both? I think I’ll just let the thoughts flow through and see what comes out.

Looking back personally I’d give the year high marks. Except for the decline and death of my mother at the venerable age of 99 the year was blissfully free of unnecessary drama or trauma. Healthy. Happy. Filled with many blessings.

Not quite the same high marks for our dear country and the world around us.

Too many selfish, partisan divisions.

Too many people struggling to attain or maintain or retain a decent standard of living.

A gap too large between the well off and the poor.

Too many deaths and injuries and lack of progress in our unwinnable war in Afghanistan.

Too much misery because of ethnic and religious strife.

For Americans, a sense of disillusionment about what the future holds.

For Americans, a lack of trust in those who say they are our leaders.

For many white Americans, a growing fear that they are losing control. And they’re right.

For Americans, an uneasy sense that the Chinese and Indians are overtaking us. And we’re right.

So is everything negative? No.

The Giants won the World Series.

San Francisco is still the best city in the world to live in.

Some TV is still worth watching – like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, Charlie Rose, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and In Treatment.

Some movies are well worth watching – like Winter’s Bone, The White Ribbon, Army of Shadows, 2046, Waltz With Bashir, and The Window.

And what about 2011? Let’s just wait and see.

Happy New Year!