The end is near. But that doesn't mean it's too late to start something.
The year might not be the only thing coming to an end. After the last few weeks, the end could be close for a few things you might recognize.
Southwest Airlines cancelled over 65% of its flights since the storm before Christmas and won't resume full operation any time soon. That's well over 2000 grounded flights a day. Stranding thousands of holiday travellers in airports around the country is not a good business model. I'd hate to see it, but the end could be near.
The political career of the newly elected U.S. Representative from New York, whose name may or may not be George Santos, is questionable after someone decided to check his references once he was elected.
Evidently, he fabricated his entire biography and resume. While many get by with lying about who they worked for or where they went to school, which he did, few get a pass for claiming to be Jewish and Gay, which he also did. Imagine the mind of some guy who really thought no one would ever check.
The only things that keep the bell from tolling on Santos' career already are a) it's legal for politicians to lie through their teeth and b) the Republican majority is thin and ranks split so badly the wannabe McCarthy needs his vote to become speaker. But Big Lies are starting to lose favor with Republicans since the last election showed most voters are over them. So the end is still likely near for Santos.
I'd like to see a few other things come to the end with this lousy year. I'd like to see an end to an illegal war in Ukraine. I'd like to see an end to east Kentucky flood victims living in campers. And I'd like to see the end to a pandemic that has turned the world on its head.
This year started with our country's biggest Covid surge and it ends with the disease affecting millions in China after they'd kept it at bay for two and a half years. Those of us who haven't had Covid in the U.S. are few and far between. Thankfully, our vaccines against the disease curtail the worst of it for most. But we can't say the end of covid is near. At this point, it probably won't ever be.
But the end is coming for 2022. I say good riddance. There'll be no Auld Lang Syne for me on Saturday midnight. Instead of looking back it's eyes forward for this guy.
I'm thinking the new year will look a lot like this: Some good things will happen. Bad things will happen, too. The world will spin daily even though there will be some who deny it.
Good people will do stupid things and stupid people will do miraculous things. There will be miracles and there will be disasters. Sometimes in the same place at the same time.
I predict in 2023 there will be a lot of change. Except nothing will change. If you can't change your mind are you sure you still have one?
The end is here.