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Ohio:
So long 2018—Hello 2019
By Melissa Martin
Another year (2018) has departed—12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days have
ticked away. The residue of events, happenings, and goings-on of 2018
dwell in newspapers, history books, human memories—and in the bowels of
computer hard drives, cell phones, and other techno devices. More time
has passed—8760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds have
ticked away. Sunrises and sunsets. The earth, sun, and moon worked
together. Gravity fastened our feet to the ground. Spring, summer,
fall, winter—the four seasons happen yearly in Ohio.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The old year has come to an end.
The media looks back on each previous year to tell the top stories on
planet earth: political scandals, natural disasters, murder and mayhem,
tragic accidents. International stories. National stories. And local
stories.
Hollywood looks back at award-winning films. Along with celebrity
marriages and divorces. Celebrity births and deaths. Celebrity gossip.
People look back at trophies, plaques, medals, honors, prizes, and
awards. Mementos of excelling and winning. Hard work and teamwork.
Academics, sports, arts, music.
In the USA, wind, water, and fire received our full attention in 2018.
The wildfires in California. Historic Hurricane Michael left a trail of
destruction across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Hurricane
Florence flooded the Carolinas.
Closer to home, Ohioans look back as well.
River Flooding of 2018
According to the National Weather Service for February of 2018,
“Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall across the entire Ohio
River basin totaled between 8 to 9 inches along and on either side of
the Ohio River from February 15 to March 1. These totals were 200 to
400% above normal values for mid to late February. The large areal
extent of the excessive rainfall led to significant rises on area
rivers, including the Ohio River.”
We look back so we can look forward. “If you want to understand today,
you have to search yesterday,” surmised Pearl Buck.
We read the newspaper in our community; watch the evening news; and
scan headlines via the internet. We talk and text recollections. We
reminisce with laughter or tears.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The new year is here.
In 2019, every person will become a year older between January and
December. Vehicle registrations, property taxes, and income taxes are
due again. More births, graduations, marriages, retirements, and deaths
will occur.
“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be
understood without understanding both,” proclaimed C. Wright Mills.
Are you welcoming or dreading 2019? Or both? We’ll make resolutions,
goals, and plans. Buy a house or sell a house. Keep a job or take a new
job. Have children or not have children. We’ll make easy decisions and
difficult decisions in 2019. Some things will stay the same. Some
things will change.
Ohiomagazine.com lists 40 things every Ohioan should do. Ohio Magazine
has been the authority on places to visit in Ohio for more than 35
years.
In an April 2018 article, the Plain Dealer listed and pictured the most
beautiful place in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. www.cleveland.com/.
What are some of my New Year’s resolutions for 2019? Use my new Golden
Buckeye card. Encourage more oldsters to wear yoga pants. Read more
books. I may go wild and get microblading for my eyebrows (aka getting
your eyebrows semi-permanently tattooed). And learn how to use a
chainsaw.
Happy New Year to the fine folks in Ohio!
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, and educator. She lives
in
Southern Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
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