For the most part, the year 2005 has been a difficult one in many areas. Mother Nature has shown her many sides. At the end of 2004 and well into 2005 a record-breaking Tsunami destroyed a lot of lives. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed a great part of the Gulf Coast, lives and homes of many American citizens. There were also earthquakes in Pakistan, all kinds of destruction that made some people think that Armageddon was beginning. Natural disasters take so many lives and the destruction has a domino effect on all involved.
I was saddened by the news that the war in Iraq has now taken more than 2000 american lives. The death toll to the innocent Iraqis who are victims of all of the suicide bombings is pathetic. I cannot hardly watch this ridiculous war anymore - Pandora's box was opened and now our president will just have to deal with the consequences. The Iraq war has proven to be a tremendous boost to Osama Bin Laden and Islamist militants around the world. Not only has the USA deposed Saddam Hussein, whom Bin Laden loathed for years, but the jihadists in Iraq are costing America in blood and money. The Iraq war has greatly expanded the pool of terrorists around the world and increased, not decreased, attacks. It is a fact that the year 2003 saw the highest incidence of significant terrorist acts (ones in which people were killed) in two decades, and the number tripled in 2004.
Mr. Bush gave more of his time and interest to this ungodly war than the war here at home in the US, and by that, I mean the division in this country. People in our gulf coast states still are living in motels, on cruise ships, in single wide mobile homes, don't have jobs - the whole situation is just so ugly. I say, charity begins at home. I got to the point that I would just start crying when I saw the homeless, the sick, the sadness, the damage that these hurricanes created. What made me so sad was that the current administration that is running our government took 5 to 6 days to even begin to take notice of it. Thousands of people in our own country were living in a superdome with no electricity, no food, deplorable conditions. It boggles the mind.
The current administration is on a downward spiral from the latest NSA bugging incidents, to Karl Rove and his role in the CIA links, to Donald Rumsfeld and his deranged handing of the war in Iraq, Dick Cheney's absence on the scene in Katrina for more than 12 days, to the choice of Harriet Mier for supreme court justice (thank heavens she withdrew her nomination) and then, of course, the Terri Schiavo thing, where Dubya and the kid brother Jeb created legislation for her benefit. The limits of the constitution have really been stretched this year. I cannot forget to mention the rising (daily) cost of gas, which nearly tripled in September, and then after the hurricanes, began a strange downward trend.
I am not Catholic, but I was very saddened by the death of the Pope. I think he was the finest pope ever. He did so much good for his faithful and was truly next to God. He is finally at home with his maker and I know he is in a better place. Johnny Carson's death was also sad, what a fine man he was. So classy and elegant, no one will ever replace him. He defined the late night talk show and as far as I am concerned, the only person worthy of mentioning to succeed him would be David Letterman. I will also miss Richard Pryor, what a life of pain and suffering he had - a lot of which was created by himself. As a child, raised in a brothel did not give him the tools necessary for a child to form a healthy ego. His gift of comedy will never be duplicated.
Michael Jackson was found "not guilty", imagine that. I hope those jurors are able to sleep at night. I personally feel that Jackson will be just like OJ though, never able to live in this world without people looking at you and knowing what you are guilty of, and the fact that you got away with it.
Of course, the whole year was not just death and destruction either. I am an eternal optimist, the glass has always been half-full. I have become a 'blogger' and it has been a wonderful experience. I read other's blogs and find my own writing 'therapeutic'. My husband started a really good job that he loves, he has good benefits so healthcare and prescriptions are no longer a drain. I have a good job, 2 miles from my home, that I love. I have began my craftwork again, exploring my artistic, creative side. I didn't realize how much I had missed it. I was so impressed by the kindness and generosity of strangers and other Americans when I saw their reaction to Katrina, people who went there and helped - just because.
I am working on staying in the moment, which is a true gift, being able to relish, cherish and live each day as it comes, in the best way possible, and being grateful for what I have. I will look back on 2005 without regret, say goodbye, and then let it go.
I sincerely hope that it is God's will that 2006 will bring about union rather than division in this country, peace in other parts of the world, and good health.
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