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Friday, January 28, 2022

Time Flies

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I’m not sure why 2013 seemed to fly by. I’ve always heard “the older you get …,” but this year seemed to go faster than some months in 2012.

Some years it’s better to close the chapter and start writing the next but indulge me for a minute of retrospection.

One year, while I was home from university, mother asked my sisters and me what we had resolved for the New Year. I said my resolution was to say whatever I thought, to not keep my opinions to myself. Mom shuddered. My sisters laughed. I was just aiming for something attainable.

No year is perfect. We always face new challenges and try to overcome them. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t. I had a lot of hope going into this year, and no idea it would be as hard as it was. I have to catch my breath when I think of all the people who showed up to lend me a hand.

I wanted my heart to mend, and in part it has. I wanted my incredibly strong mother to have a little easier struggle with her cancer. When Pop had complications from his cancer surgery, I wanted him to live to love our family. He remains our anchor.

I wanted my sisters to have the babies they so desired — and they did. When my nephew was born prematurely, I wanted him to survive and thrive. Thanks to the angels in the NICU, he has. When my baby sister had her little girl, I wanted all good health and love. Both my sister and my niece are beautiful.

I wanted my daughter’s last year of high school to be full of success, love and support, and it has been.

I wanted the Pebble mine project to fail in order to protect our salmon. That hasn’t happened yet but we’re making progress.

I said eight words I never thought I’d say: “I have a giant crush on the pope.”

There is glacial progress toward peace in the world. Our government’s abuses of our rights have been exposed to the sunlight and demands for change are growing.

Utah now allows gay marriage — or what I like to call “marriage.” Can socially backward Alaska be far behind?

I’ve rather liked this year, and the upcoming year shows signs of promise. Affordable health care will become a reality for millions of Americans. There are plenty of problems still to be solved but at least we’re trying.

Perhaps America will finally grow bored with the manufactured outrage over silliness like the biblical scholarship of “Duck Dynasty” and the faux “War on Christmas.” Maybe instead we will remember that our fellow citizens are still dying in Afghanistan; we lost six there in a helicopter crash on Dec. 17.

Maybe a message of devotion to peace and brotherly love from the “Marxist” Pope Francis will resonate in more hearts than the hatred and bigotry of the Rev. Hagees and Prevos of the world.

In Alaska, we have a chance to overturn legislation that strips workers of their rights. We will have the opportunity in 2014 to reclaim the birthright of all Alaskans to receive a fair price for our oil resources. And we’ll have the option to vote for lawmakers who aren’t hell bent on colonizing our state for foreign-owned corporations.

We can resolve to actually protect the most vulnerable among us rather than just mouthing hollow slogans. We don’t have to be the third most violent state, thanks to our outrageous rape statistics. If we want to change that, we can start that process in a voting booth.

Here’s the thing. I can’t list all the moments or people who have meant so much to me in the last year. It’s impossible in this small space. So let me just wish love for the lonely, peace to the troubled, and care for those who suffer neglect, sorrow or poverty.

This year’s resolution? To tell you exactly what I think, to fight for a better Alaska for all Alaskans, and to never miss an opportunity to say thank you.

This article is cross-posted from the Anchorage Daily News

Comments

comments

Comments
6 Responses to “Time Flies”
  1. akmeems says:

    the comment about electing folks who won’t sell us out to the corporations seems so timely.
    Public TV rebroadcast the Statehood Documentary last week and I thought it was telling that one of the big pushes for statehood was the because the fish and mining companies were taking our resources and not giving back. Are we going to repeat that situation just over 50 years later?

  2. WC had summer afternoons in junior high school that lasted longer than 2013. Thanks for the best possible spin on a kidney stone of a year.

    /WC

  3. mike from iowa says:

    No offense,but Khloe Kardashian’s wish for 2014 is to wear a crop top with blue jeans. Absurdly superficial? Certainly,but she represents the deepest philosophical side of wingnut thought. The “I don’t eat meat cuz I’m a vetrinarian” side. Ms. Moore-you keep saying what comes to mind and we’ll keep reading and saying thank you for your time and efforts.

  4. AKjah says:

    Thank you Shannyn. Someone posited the question today what was positive good news for you this year. I had to think a bit an remembered we had a great year of abundance at the farmers market in Homer. The road to food security is getting better. I do encourage young folks i meet that farming is a good way to go. They wont get rich but they wont be without.

  5. juneaudream says:

    Hugs for the ..forward strengths and supportings..and..continued good health and..remembering that the human calender. is..but a figment..of those who would keep us..in boxes..lil boxes..etc. Think..’seamless’..and..great rolling energy..flowing around you..and the many dimensions..that we all inhabit..That.. dear soul..will free you..for all the rest of your years.

  6. laurensd1 says:

    What a holiday gift. So beautifully written.
    Thank you for a forever message .. and Happy New Year and reflections to everyone.