2007 Is More of the Same

Friday, December 29, 2006

Page 23

AT THE SIDEBAR (Column)

2007 Is More of the Same

By J’AMY PACHECO

There goes another year.

It would be cliché to say that 2006 went faster than cheap tickets to a Hannah Montana concert. But that’s pretty much the way it went.

Although it’s difficult to believe how quickly time seems to pass these days, going into 2007 doesn’t seem like a substantial change. Going from 1999 to 2000 – now, that was a big deal, even though the world didn’t fall into technological ruin, as had been predicted. Changing from 2000 to 2001 seemed like a big deal, too; probably because of Arthur Clarke’s classic space novel (and the movie, which I saw at the age of nine and never understood).

Even 2005 seemed bigger than 2004. I suppose that’s because it ends with a five, which always comes across like some kind of significant milestone.

Going from 2006 to 2007 doesn’t seem like a huge change. It feels natural; like the year is just supposed to flow smoothly into the next. I doubt I would even have trouble writing ‘07 on the first few checks of the new year – if my debit card didn’t make writing checks a thing of the past. Like from 1999.

Smoothly as it’s coming in, 2007 is a new year, which makes it a good time to reflect upon the past and wonder about the future.

There are, of course, things I wish I’d done differently in 2006. As I previously mentioned here, for example, I attempted to climb the Kelso Dunes and failed. It was a lot like trying to climb a waterfall, and I gave it one heck of a try. But my failure disappointed my daughter, who made it farther than her mom, but who also was unable to reach the top.

It’s been weeks, and I still regret having given up. Rather than having the memory of the event fade with time, I find myself longing to try again and finally learn what the backside of the dunes looks like. I suspect 2007 will see us making a return trip — and that the backside of the dunes will look a great deal like the front.

I helped with a lot of fifth grade homework this year. I became startlingly proficient in elementary geometry and algebra. Unfortunately, I still don’t know how to calculate the area of a circle — nor can I believe that fifth graders have to learn that.

I learned how to spell sphygmomanometer, thanks to my daughter having missed it as a bonus word on her 100 word spelling test and narrowly missing the title of Class Best Speller. I’m not sure how being able to spell sphygmomanometer will help either of us get on in the world, but I suppose it might come in handy at parties.

I spent a night on an 1800s-era tall ship, pretending to be a sailor. That was an incredible adventure, but not one I’m anxious to repeat. I can’t say I learned anything of real value, but it did give me an idea for a story I’ll probably never write.

Ah, the writing. I wrote thousands – maybe even millions — of words in 2006. Heck, I filled this space alone 52 times. Factor in the articles, letters, e-mails, fax cover sheets, notes to teachers, reminders-to-self and grocery lists that have come from my pen or keyboard, and I think you could say I’ve written a fairly good amount.

But it’s the things I didn’t write that bother me. There are so many thoughts I intended to put down on paper in various forms, and didn’t. I suppose we all believe we have the Great American Novel inside of us, and I suppose most of us will take our version to the grave.

Ah, well. Maybe there is literature in the afterlife.

I wish I’d been more patient in 2006, and more charitable. This is especially true of my drive time. While I’m not an aggressive driver, I do have the nasty habit of muttering insulting words when confronted with drivers who annoy me. (You know who you are. You just don’t know what I say. Regrettably, my daughter does.)

I wish I’d been more efficient in my life, and more effective as a human being. I wish I weren’t such a procrastinator; that my house was always in a state of visitor readiness, and that I never had to feed my child breakfast in the car on the way to school.

But this was my reality in 2006, and it will likely continue through 2007. The dates will change, the seasons will come and go, but as Popeye says, “Eye yam what eye yam.”

I’m guessing 2007 will be a lot like 2006. I suspect it will go just as quickly, and that I’ll be writing another new year column before I know it.

So, Happy New Year. Enjoy it — as slowly as you can!