For some strange reason, the passing of the calendar from one year to the next leads reminiscence about the year just past - prompting us to promises and predictions for the year to come.
If you think about it, New Years Day is just a day like any other. We dont celebrate the changing of any other month with the possible exception of April Fools Day, but that is whole other story.
Something about changing years seems to fill us with a sense of the passage of time, though, so we have end-of-the-year reviews. We nominate someone as Person of the Year. We declare the newsmaker of the year. We hunt for the story of the year.
We mark the passage of time.
Looking back at 2014, was it an exceptional year? Was it really different from any other?
Certainly there was war in the Middle East, but when hasnt there been fighting in the Middle East? It would seem that ISIS or ISIL or whatever they are called these days is just the latest manifestation of a long litany of contention.
Sure, there was also the takeover of the Crimean peninsula by Russia and unrest in eastern Ukraine. But this sort of saber rattling has been going on almost continuously in former client states since the break-up of the Soviet Union. No one wants to be demoted from super-power to has-been.
There was also an Olympics last February. It is almost an after thought for the year. The sad thing is, with the exception of the mens and womens hockey teams, I dont really recall the athletes that won gold for Canada.
Okay - that isnt quite true. I do remember Brad Jacobs and Jennifer Jones winning their respective curling gold medals ,but I am curling fan and do consider it a sport.
That is not to say that the performances by our athletes were not important or noteworthy. I suspect for many people the Olympics in Sochi were a definite highlight of the year, but for just as many they are a fuzzy memory at best.
The year was also dominated by politicians of all stripes doing crazy and outrageous things. Perhaps it is fitting that former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was named newsmaker of the year because he certainly made news.
Unfortunately for Toronto, it was not the sort of news that anyone wanted to hear. It seems that for almost three years now, we have been inundated with stories about a man with significant issues around substance abuse and violence. It is sad this is news. It is sad to see a human being fail.
But Ford wasnt the only politician in the news. Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino seemed to be off his rocker when it comes to his portfolio. How does a minister take a trip to another country, but claim that there is no money for veterans here at home?
Maybe more to the point, how can a minister proudly point out the $1.1 billion in savings accrued by his department while veterans go without necessary services?
There is also the ongoing senate expense scandal - a scandal that just doesnt seem to want to die. But it is certainly leading to calls for an end to the senate.
Perhaps the underlying issue in Ottawa comes down to a do as I say, not as I do" approach. When the rest of the country is being told to make do with what we have, our MPs and senators dont seem to see things that way.
This was brought home provincially by former Alberta premier Alison Redford who was forced to resign over expenses. Indeed, the auditor general declared there was an aura of privilege maintained by Redford, which included private flights on public jets and converting public space to private living quarters.
Alberta was further shocked this year when the Wildrose Nine, as they are being labelled, crossed the floor to become part of the ruling Conservatives. Ethics and values up for grabs at the cost of a ministerial post. What else is new?
There were some big breakthroughs in the world of science. Nothing of earth-shattering significance such as a cure for heart disease or the secret of eternal youth, but Rosetta finally made it to Comet 67P and the Philae lander touched down.
We now have much more data about the early solar system than we did before. And the Curiosity rover finally made it to the mountains on Mars. It might have even found signs of life.
But all in all, 2014 was just another year with good news stories, bad news stories and even some funny news stories.
Maybe 2015 will be more interesting. In Prince George, it has promise as we celebrate 100 years. But when we look back next December, what will we remember?
