It didn't work this year. The trance, which every December provides those infamous Cuff predictions for the coming year? No luck this year.
I tried several times to enter that hazy zone. Okay, I can still read minds; I know I'm in that state most of the time.
During a mild early December I tried a double dip pistachio/walnut ice cream cone. No luck. All other attempts failed. I watched a crazy show called "The View." I washed the car a couple of times, always a good time for thinking. I tried raking leaves in the rain, made myself a Dagwood sandwich and almost threw my shoe at a marching mob on TV. I actually got two answers right competing with Jeopardy contestants, took a lengthy hot-cold, hot-cold, hot-cold shower. I even tried the never-failer: I vacuumed the living room rug. No dice!
During all of these futile attempts one word kept bouncing around in my brain: Legacy.
It finally hit home: President Obama's Legacy. It's something the pundits keep discussing, how he can build a lasting, positive legacy during his final two years in office.
He entered into office with the potential to become one of the greatest presidents of all time, the potential to fulfill all those lofty promises of his campaign, to unite the nation, to provide an unmatched transparency in office, to transform America into the nation it was destined to be through compromise, to fulfill the American dream.
Fat chance. How quickly he reverted to the typical; no, make that more-typical politician that has been known to generations. His aim seems to be to divide and conquer, to ram through what were his pre-hidden agendas, to be the type leader who finally said, "I'm not an emperor," even though, to a split nation, he appears to be.
Transparency? Uniter? Compromiser? Of course, as his every speech seems to stress, Let's work together; I'll listen; Just bring me your ideas; Send me a plan.
But compromiser? His next sentence always ends with "Pass something I can sign," and, with his rigid agenda, there goes the possibility of compromise.
Enough of that.
The important thing for each of us is building our own legacy. Creating lives which can be positive, honest, compassionate, understanding, built on the ideas, the foundation which has brought about the America which has become the greatest self-governing body in the history of mankind.
It seems to be much harder for many to foster those concepts with the "What's in it for me?" and "Give it to me because I have a right to it." Those concepts are coupled with the ease of luxury and "I want to be entertained by the movie stars of the sports so-called heroes" mentality that seems to control the thinking of so many Americans.
Enough of that ranting, also.
What is really most needed, in my feeble mind, is a return to the basic family self-sustaining structure which brought us to the high apex of civilization: A work ethic that develops callouses on hands, aching backs, a true feeling of thankfulness for the blessings of achievement.
Does this sound like a pessimistic rant on which to end a year and an unachievable goal as a new year is upon us?
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
The answer is in each individual's mind.
Governments come and go with changes that inevitably come in various forms. We do live at the apex as a civilized, self-governing society, built through hard work, honesty, though sometimes questioned, and most important a loving, family-structured foundation.
Though fractured, that foundation still exists. The challenge is to make every new year, every passing day a time to maintain and build on that foundation.
No predictions for next year: Only one -- that living in Westside Eagle Observer country will continue to provide the culture to meet and enjoy that challenge.
Dodie Evans is the retired editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 12/31/2014