WHOOPEE! ’24 IS OVER! Bring in the new, please

By Forest Riggs

With Christmas behind us, we now move into 2025 — and none too soon. I don’t think I could take another day of Sunny 99.1 playing their four Christmas songs over and over and over. With all the zillions Christmas songs out there, one would think they could come up with more to offer than, “Last Christmas”, “This is Christmas”, Mariah, Brenda Lee and Mr. Grinch! Enough!

One good thing about the new year and moving into 2025, is 2024 is behind us. Gone, finis, farewell. It was not a good year on many levels. Aside from all the political torture and eventually electing a raving maniac to run (ruin) the country. Never mind the man is a convicted sex offender, a liar, a cheat and an unfaithful husband (on many levels), he was impeached twice and now is TIME magazine’s Person of the Year. What has America become?

OK, I think we are all in agreement on this topic: The majority of Americans that voted have created and enabled a monster. Time will tell and it won’t be a pretty story. If he gets his twisted wish, there will be less construction workers, farm workers, masons, and lawn care folks and on and on. In the end, expect higher prices for everything and a true disaster for the American people. Folks, it won’t be fake news!
As for me personally, 2024 was a rotten year, thus I heartily welcome 2025. However, I don’t think things will change. In 2024 I lost my beloved cat Ignatius. Fourteen years of devoted companionship ended with a shot. My sweet parrot, Dixie, who has listened to me and been there for 7 years finally exited my bedroom, discovered the front door open and flew into the wild — probably to her death.

In 2024, I lost some good friends to unexpected deaths. A few family members passed away from old age, which, though expected, was not welcomed. I also lost a few friendships, some of which I had enjoyed for many years. But as the old adage goes, things change and so do people.

A lifelong dream of mine has been to find some acreage “out in the country” and have a small cabin — a retreat of sorts. A cabin would be a good place to find peace, write and finish the great American novel I started years ago. I got really close in ’24, practically to the closing table on 8 beautiful acres in East Texas, heart of the Big Thicket country. Because the seller ended up being a meth-head and nutcase, it all went sour. Another great pitfall and heartache gift from 2024. As I get older and really don’t give a damn anymore, it does not matter. Perhaps the land was not meant for me (at least right now) and as for the “friends,” perhaps they were never really friends but convenient imposters. Space-takers, I call them.

So this year as you gorge on cabbage and black-eyed peas and think it is gonna make a difference, take a big burp and get over it. My prognostication for 2025 is the same ol‘, same ol‘. Will it be good for you? Who knows. They say life is what you make of it. I think I have stopped making of it and find myself taking of it. Taking the pitfalls, the crap and the annoyances as they come.

For those that experienced a remarkable 2024, bless your heart. I certainly don’t mean to rain on your parade or cry sour grapes. I hope your good fortune continues in 2025. For those that drink the champagne on New Year’s Eve and rattle on about how great 2025 is gonna be, good luck with that. By all indicators, at least in my world, it does not look very promising.

I guess at 67, I can say with all honesty that I am bitter and somewhat angry. Good does not always win and bad seems to prevail.

Forest’s book available at Amazon.com

So, this New Year, unlike the previous 60+ in the past, I will make no resolutions nor set unrealistic goals. If I have a goal for 2025, it will be to take it as it comes and work on how I react to those comings!
Note from the guy typing: Perhaps this January column is a bit out of character for me; I usually try to be upbeat and encourage others to find and do good, be happy, etc. Just not feeling it this year. I do wish all readers and those that enjoy “Across the Causeway” a peaceful new year and one filled with less crap. Wear high boots folks, its gonna get deep.

In time, maybe I will be like Dixie and escape my cage and fly away into the wild blue yonder or, better yet, find myself sitting on the banks of some little pond or creek on land that I own, drinking cold beer (yes, Bud Light) and work on that novel. Until then, I will hang in there and try to smile, taking as it comes.

Be blessed.

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