|
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
 |
2012: A Year of Good
Times and Not so Good Times
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
Good times. Where do I start? Family first. Always. Those of us who are
so blessed need to remember that not everyone is so fortunate. Be
grateful for the loved ones who surround you, and be compassionate
toward those who may be suffering.
County News Online. Nearly two and a half years ago this month, three
Senior Scribes – Lyn Bliss, Kurt Fritsch and yours truly – sat at a
table in the BRC cafeteria having a discussion: A new fundraiser for
the Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund.
I talked with three local businessmen who not only liked the idea but
were willing to help support it financially… Ted Abney at Bistro Off
Broadway, Kent Zechar at Zechar Bailey Funeral Homes and Dave Knapp at
Dave Knapp Ford. That support gave us the encouragement to move forward…
A few months later, Jan. 15, 2011, County News Online was launched.
Over the next two weeks nearly 2,000 people checked us out. In February
we had about 3,000 visitors and 11,000 page views.
This month – two years later – CNO traffic will break the two million
mark. December will wrap up with over 180,000 ‘hits’ from about 35,000
readers.
This acceptance by the community – and support through the generosity
of local sponsors too numerous to list – allowed CNO to raise nearly
$11,000 in scholarships in 2012 for Darke County teens heading off to
college.
To all of our Sponsors, and to the community, a huge THANK YOU!! When
you see our Sponsors, please thank them for their support.
If we stop and think about it, all of us will likely have good reasons
for seeing Old Man Time 2012 disappear, but there will be good memories
as well. You’ve read about some of them from local contributors.
Lyn Bliss shared her “Living the Dream” with us; Bev Hughes wrote about
her 60-mile bike ride on her 60th birthday; Kalista King introduced us
to her excitement over the Teen Revival growing throughout Darke
County; and thousands of visitors enjoyed events unique to our county:
The Great Darke County Fair, Annie Oakley Days, Gathering at Garst,
local parades and festivals…
There’s “everything” to be said about life in rural Darke County. And
it’s good.
My personal highlight of 2012 was getting to know and love two new
grandchildren: a precious and precocious two-and-a-half year old named
Bella (who looks like Shirley Temple), and a one-and-a-half year old
“all boy” boy named Landyn, who will laugh and giggle for reasons known
only to himself. I’d all but forgotten the pleasures of being a “Papau”
again. They were happy to reintroduce me.
My career has been that of a journalist; but my avocation always seems
to have been teaching… not sure why, but from the time I graduated from
college, I’ve always offered a training environment for young people.
Last year I started getting into my latest great adventure… substitute
teaching at all levels, K-12, and college-level course work for Post
Secondary (high school juniors and seniors) and Adult learners at
Edison. I’m loving it!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all of the terrific people I’ve
met and worked with over the years and continued to run into in 2012.
The great organizations I’ve been privileged to be part of; the good
friends and wonderful acquaintances… what more can anyone ask?
Great times, great people and great stories.
Not so good times? I wish I could say they are behind us…
unfortunately, I don’t believe they are. Politically speaking, for
instance, 2012 was an economic disaster.
I have to give President Obama credit where it’s due. He has convinced
the majority of Americans that government spending is going to bring
jobs back and turn the economy around… and that a tax increase on those
“rich” folks earning $250K will pay for it.
Does he believe it? I don’t know. Maybe he does, maybe not. History
belies it, but the age-old liberal response to “it has never worked” is
always “we’ll get it right this time.”
Unfortunately, there is no “right.” But our focus these days seems to
be ‘hope springs eternal.’ It’s much easier to swallow than the old
fashioned ‘work hard, play hard’ and a ‘penny saved is a penny earned’
concepts that I grew up with.
I’m afraid those “not so good times” will carry over into 2013.
Another disappointment from 2012 that will likely continue through this
year is the belief by elected officials (at all levels of government)
that they aren’t really responsible to their bosses, the taxpayers. The
worst part is that “We the People” seem to agree. We raise a stink
about something that outrages us, then we say “Oh well” and move on to
something else.
When it comes time to evaluate their performance at the polls, we give
our stamp of approval and send them back to office. Why should they
worry?
Finally, the tragedies continue, from a little town in Connecticut to
the ambush in Webster, New York. We will always have sick people among
us. Will we learn from them? From their actions? Will we finally begin
to address some of the social ills that could be causative factors?
Will we actually begin to look inside ourselves for ways to truly deal
with these issues instead of pontificating over Band-Aids?
All the laws in the nation will not stop random acts of violence, but
maybe… just maybe… a hard look at the society that spawned these
individuals might shed some light on what we are doing right…
And what we might be doing wrong.
In the meantime, let each of us breathe fresh life into our lives;
remember our blessings, renew our faith in God and His plan, and
reaffirm once again the direction we would like our own lives to take.
2012 was a year of good and not so good. With God’s help, we can make
2013 better if we so choose.
That’s My Opinion. What’s Yours?
|
|
|
|
