How about taking a look at what this year brought us.
The World Cup
As any soccer fan knows, this was all that was on my television in June and July. And of course you can't touch the topic of the World Cup this year without mentioning Brazil's devastating loss to Germany 7-1. It was difficult for any Brazilian to watch and pure euphoria for the Germans, who also went to win the world cup one nothing against Argentina.
Snow, Snow and More Snow
Here in Delaware snow was a constant from the beginning of the year until about mid-April. April! Spring began the month before and we were still getting snow. The past week, during Christmas time and when I wouldn't mind a little bit of snow, you know what we got? Rain. And it wasn't even cold rain it was hot, muggy, can't-wear-long-sleeves rain, on Christmas Eve... Scraping snow off cars was not my ideal way to spend the first days of spring. It was called the Polar Vortex. And from what I hear Las Vegas is going to get snow on New Years?! Oh man, another one..?
Ebola
This epidemic started in February affecting West Africa. It did not get much air time in the media here in the states, at least not that I remember. That is, until Autumn when the disease reached our shores. Everyone and their mother feared this deadly disease, except me and a few other rational people I knew. There was never going to be an outbreak here but the media loved to instill the fear in the head of the public. Here we are a few month later and not a peep of it in any major news outlet. This is not to disregard the two fatal cases in the U.S. and the thousands overseas. Hats off to them.
XXII Winter Olympics
The 22nd Winter Olympics that were held in Sochi, Russia. Host country, Russia, cleared the board (again) in the medals that were won. Slovenia won their first gold medal in the Winter Olympics in alpine skiing. U.S. ranked fourth overall and Kazakhstan came in dead last with only one bronze medal won. The drama began even before the games commenced with Russia's anti-gay policy and rumors flying about. An eventful time for athletes and spectators alike.
Missing Planes...
Plane
After Plane
After Plane
....After Plane went down. A very tragic year in aviation. They have recently found the AirAsia QZ8501 remains. A lot of lives lost and not the greatest year in Asian air traffic. The media ate it up, there wasn't a channel this was not the headlining story on. A moment for all the lives lost in these devastating crashes.
Malala Yousafzai
So what were you doing when you were 17? Or, if you have not reached that age, what do you think you will be doing? Probably not being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize like Yousafzai was doing this year. She has become the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. This Pakistani young woman fought the Taliban in a very different way than the Americans. She fights for women's rights to education. She began her fight when she was about 11 or 12. An amazing young woman of whom, if you do not know much about, I would consider looking up her story and her continuing struggle today.
U.S. News and Scandals
Seeing as I live in the U.S. I would remember a lot of things that occurred in this country. Like the scandal at the beginning of the year concerning NJ Gov. Christie and the closing down of the bridge which led to an incredible gridlock and cost a motorist his life. Or how about the owner of the Clippers being banned from for life from the NBA due to him being a racist? Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) comes into effect and is hit with bugs and flaws in the system right away. The number of states that consider same sex marriage legal rises to 35 and recreational marijuana use becomes legal in four states. Ferguson, MO becomes a battleground as riots engulf the city. We also saw what the effects of PTSD when a veteran jumped the White House fence and ran inside with a small pocket knife. A big fumble on the Secret Service's part. The One World Trade Center opens in New York City. I saw it when it was being built last year when I went there in December. Republicans take control of the Senate and Obama takes immigration reform into his own hands.Well this was a very eventful year for the world. And of course the grim reaper came and took a few notable people, the one that I will personally miss the most is Robin Williams. He was a large part of my childhood and always made me laugh. Other notable mentions include Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney, Maya Angelou, "Shaggy's" voice Casey Kasem, Lauren Becall, Jack Bruce, Roberto"Chesperito" Gomez Bolaños and Gabriel "Gabo" García Márquez.
So let's look forward to the new year with hope and promise of ending one of the greatest years of our lives this time next year.
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