Time is a precious thing and the years pass too quickly. We are all allocated too few. Thus, I am always reluctant to say goodbye to one and unlike many others, I’m not inclined to say that it’s good to see 2008 pass into history.

It was, no doubt a rough year, but as I reflected on it today I wondered what my Mom and Dad might have said. I suspect both would have watched the developments and remarked empathetically, “What a shame.” Their feelings would have been heartfelt but also tinged with the knowledge of how much mored difficult life can be.

In the midst of all of this we need to take a step back and realize how fortunate we are. We enjoy comforts and luxuries unknown in history. No matter how bad it has been this year, there are no soup kitchens, no Hoovervilles, the Republic continues to function. Now is a good time to dig down and remember how we created such a society. Not through government but through initiative and hard work. If we adhere to those tenets then we will come out on the other end in fine shape. The strength of the country is and always will be in the spirit of its people.

With that let me wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Together we can make it so.

And now, I’ll leave you with a couple of videos. Auld Lang Syne to be sure but a little different. The first is a recitation of the song and it is hauntingly beautiful. The second is Kenneth McKellar doing a traditional rendition.  I hope you enjoy them.