Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
This time last year we were all ready to kick 2020 to the curb and have a better 2021. We can mostly agree that didn’t work out so well.
It wasn’t all bad though. We had our moments during 2021. But let’s start by reviewing the ugly stuff so we can end the column and start the new year with the positive.
The bad
We suffered through another year of COVID restrictions imposed by our governments. Those restrictions didn’t do much for us but that hasn’t stopped presidents and governors from trying. Makes me wonder if we had skipped the mandatory restrictions if we wouldn’t be in exactly the same place. Maybe we would be in a better place with fewer folks divided over stuff that we shouldn’t be fighting about.
In the midst of mandatory restrictions our government leaders thought they would compensate folks for staying home. So they offered extended unemployment benefits and then they extended them a little longer and people got used to not going in to a job. Families with multiple jobs figured out they could do just as well without out some of those paychecks, even after the benefits ran out. Now we have a lack of willing workers unlike anytime in my lifetime.
Some of those folks being paid not to work found other things to occupy their time and crime rates, especially in big cities, got really bad. I’d like to put all the blame on those government leaders but it could be crime gets worse in a pandemic.
Along the way, gas prices doubled and our inflation rate reminded me of the worst parts of the 1970s. I’m still a little puzzled about the whole shipping backlog thing. Some stuff was easy to get and arrived with regularity, while other items became scarce as hens’ teeth. Some of it made no sense at all.
Finally on the ugly side of the year was that exit of Afghanistan. I was ready for that episode of our history to end but our men and women in uniform didn’t deserve the debacle that ensued after 20 years of blood, sweat and tears there.
The good
We have a lot to celebrate despite all that negative.
We have to salute those of you who set the good examples by respecting others and how they’ve chosen to deal with the difficulties of a pandemic. We also have to celebrate those who quickly got back to life and making family memories as soon as restrictions were lifted and they were able.
On the economic front we found out that we can support our friends and neighbors in business in our own community. I know it hasn’t been a cakewalk for our businesses, but I’ve been heartened to hear some have done well thanks to folks shopping locally.
A couple of other bright spots in our year have been seeing the dedication and resilience of our teachers and healthcare workers. The cards have been stacked against these folks since this pandemic started and things have been two steps forward and one back. They’re tired and depressed and need our support every day. Let’s make sure we give it to them.
Finally, we’ve all found our inner prayer warrior over the last year. For some it was there all along but we had just forgotten how to get on our knees. For others it was a new connection born of trying times. Either way it’s a great thing that we’re taking it to a higher power regularly. It may just be the thing that gets us through.
Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at: