YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
At times, I have tried looking back at the old year or ahead to some predictions for the new one, but every media news outlet will do both with more expertise. As it is, even an uniformed observer such as I knows that the top story of 2007 in the Ozarks will be the January ice storm. Because the wrath of the storm was so widespread, it may be among the year's top stories in Missouri.
I suspect the squabble over usage of the piece of real estate in Jordan Valley Park originally set aside for an arena will rank pretty high on the local meter of important news stories of the year. It certainly doesn't take a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist to predict that progress on the renovation of the Heer’s building and the ongoing saga of the fate of Park Central Square will be up high on the Springfield news events of 2008.
A subject I have used in the past has been on making New Year’s resolutions. To my knowledge, I have never made a resolution that has lasted any time at all. Instead of
making formal proclamations of resolutions, I now begin the year wishing I would either stop doing things I shouldn't do or start doing things I should do. This method hasn't been any more successful than full-fledged resolutions. With such a lousy track record, I have no business writing on the subject.
The celebration of the holiday lacks the charm and charisma of other holidays. The perception in the minds of many is New Year’s Eve being celebrated by dancing away the evening at a fancy hotel ballroom dressed in party clothes and consuming adult beverages. At the stroke of midnight, confetti, noisemakers and champaign welcome in the new year. Not exactly a warm and fuzzy image.
I believe it was Johnny Carson who said he never went out on New Year’s Eve because that’s when all the amateur drinkers were out on the town.
I’m sure many people will celebrate the arrival of the new year attending lavish galas. Others, in a more moderate practice of Auld Lang Syne, may gather with some “old acquaintances” who will make a supreme effort to stay awake until midnight.
Once it was a custom to spend New Year’s Day watching the college football bowl games on TV. But, this was before every major college football team that showed up for all the games on its schedule was invited to play in some bowl. The bowl games considered to be the most important are no longer played on New Year’s Day. Watching bowl games on TV may no longer be the preeminent New Year’s activity.
Some less enthusiastic football fans have always preferred watching TV coverage of one of the parades affiliated with football bowl games. Fans of elaborate parades can still celebrate the holiday in style.
I suppose this 24th Rusty Saber New Year’s column, like the others, has failed to nail down a proper subject. At least I have been consistent.
All that remains is to wish my readers a Happy New Year.
Think about that for a moment: When we wish folks a Merry Christmas, a happy Thanksgiving, or whatever, our hope is for them to enjoy a specific day. Happy New Year wishes them happiness for an entire year.
So be it. Have a great and happy 365 days!
Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]
Under construction beside the existing Republic branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library District – which remains in operation throughout the project – is a new building that will double the size of the original, according to library officials.