Get over here, 2018. I want to put you in a headlock.
Like many people, I couldn’t exactly say that 2018 was a great year. That is mainly due to the constant political squabbling in real life and on Facebook and other social media. Division might be good in math, but in our country it is taking a real toll.
But my bigger issue with 2018 was all the rain we got over the summer. Sure, my basement got a little wet a few times. The biggest problem is that the weather severely cut into my therapy, by which I mean the riding time on my motorcycle.
Rain is not my friend.
But I am not here to complain as we usher in 2019 and a chance at a fresh start. I do look back on 2018 as a year when I had some fine moments and some real accomplishments. Let’s re-live some of those, shall we?
* In my first column of 2018, I mentioned that I had just played my first live music gig in nearly a decade in late 2017. Well, I played a bunch more of them this year, and it has been fantastic. I can’t head bang like I used to, and loading all of the equipment into and out of venues is pretty tiring these day, but there is still nothing like rocking some live original hard rock music. Horns up, people!
* I avoided all cable news networks like they were an all-you-can-eat liver and onions restaurant. Not one second of Fox News, or MSNBC, or CNN or whatever else passes for “news” on cable. Trust me, we would all be better off if everyone did the same.
* I was recently at the optometrist waiting for my eye exam and a woman with two little kids came in. They were basically all over me like little two crazed pint-sized monsters. Mom? She pretty much ignored it all. To my surprise, and great relief, I did not yell at them or even tell them Santa is not real. I just stared in the general direction of the mother until she finally noticed and corralled the two wild boys. Here’s a tip, parents: Not everyone loves your kids.
* In 2018, I finally gave up and just accepted my love of shoes. I now have 13 pairs of Converse tennis shoes. Thirteen. To many of you that sounds like a lot, but I sit here wondering, “Why only 13?” My total shoe count is probably in the 40s. I know, it’s a problem.
* This marked another year in my life where I was not arrested. So far, I have a totally clean record in that regard. This is one record I hope to make a lifelong thing.
* Just like last year, I managed to not eat any raisins, lima beans or fish– even accidentally. I am almost as proud of that accomplishment as I am my adult children. Almost.
* I managed to wear clothes that were not pretty much all black 27.6 percent of the time. For me that is a high percentage. First, because I like black. Second, because I am color blind and black clothes are certainly easy to match. Third, you can mix and match all those Converse shoes when you wear black.
Well, it’s time for us to say goodbye to 2018 and welcome in 2019 and the coldest part of winter at the same time. I hope you all have a wonderful, prosperous and healthy 2019.
Me? Every year my hair doesn’t completely abandon me is a good year.
