It is astonishing to think about the blazing speed with which 2019 is coming to an end. It seems like yesterday that we were thinking of all the positive possibilities for this new year and wham, it is nearly over.
I recall laughing at older and mature friends and relatives who claimed that time goes faster as one ages. “What an old wives’ tale,” I remember thinking, not then realizing the truth of that statement. Now I share the same sentiment with my own mature acquaintances and get the glazed look from younger people who are obviously seeing a nursing care facility in my future.
So regardless of how quickly time has passed, (or how slowly for some people) the end is nigh and some kind of reflection on the past 12 months seems timely, considering how quickly the baby new year will grow and mature.
On the political front, the federal election produced a minority government, and Andrew Scheer resigned as leader of his party as the knives came out and pundits began smelling blood in the water. With the election came more talk of Western alienation and even separation, goaded by premiers with their “them against us” approach to negotiations and talks between “them and us.”
Locally the city’s leaders and administration faced a year on the hot seat as taxpayers became more engaged with trying to figure out how the community’s future is being managed by elected and hired officials.
As we head into 2020 a city budget that passed without much public scrutiny was not a Happy New Year greeting.
It leaves one wondering how some families and individuals will manage to pay all the extra costs associated with this budget. But there is self-congratulations going around that for the first time a year’s budget was passed before the new year began. Small comfort to taxpayers already taxed beyond their ability to pay.
The agreement for a planned construction project along Thatcher Drive was lauded as an accomplishment after delays which saw considerable changes to the final contract — and more costs being taken on by the city — by that we mean city taxpayers. There is come confusion as to why the project faced so many years of delays but one fact is definite: the burrowing owls near the proposed site had absolutely nothing to do with the deal’s delay. Shame on the elected official who made that claim, and shame on city administration for not being able to answer legitimate questions about the costs related to the project.
On a personal level, the year had some ups and downs for our family, but the major “up” event was the celebration of our 50th anniversary with family and friends. We were blessed to have so many people gathered to join us as we looked back on 50 years and ahead to a few more.
Getting Housemate on the dance floor for two mini dances was a major accomplishment for our friend Kelly Bourdages of Trick Ryder. Our hearts were definitely full — and racing.
We will continue looking back on that gathering with thankfulness for having such wonderful friends and family.
Our travels for the year were shorter than usual but still interesting as we explored and got lost on roads going here and there in pursuit of new adventures, interesting museums, the best grilled cheese sandwiches, classic car displays, musical concerts and of course, the wildlife for Housemate to photograph.
In retrospect, 2019 was a fairly decent year. What will 2020 hold for all of us? Ask me on Dec. 31, 2020 and I will be able to answer that with the perfect vision and hindsight that 20-20 offers.
Happy New year to one and all.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
