A Year in Review

2009 was a tense, edge of your seat year, filled with major history making events. A year that most of us would not want to see repeated. Some of these events affected, in some way, every citizen of this planet. For example, the collapse of the world economy. Although it started in the United States with the stock market crash, every country in the world eventually fell into a financial decline. However, the same year also saw the seeds of recovery sprout and begin to cover the earth with green again, albeit, slowly.

Before we started feeling the benefits of financial recovery we were struck with a pandemic that generated fear and paranoia from the danger of mutations to the controversial vaccinations.The ongoing flu scare will keep us on our collective toes well into the next year.

Another history making, earth shaking event? A black man in the Whitehouse and this black man is not afraid to make bold , sweeping decisions that are often unpopular. The black first lady is also a strong personality and not afraid to let her opinions be known.

This year had the wildest weather conditions to date and they were global. Floods , hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, droughts and wildfires. People finally became aware that these conditions are not normal and will continue to worsen. This is also the year when the countries of the world will get together in Copenhagen and take positive steps to slow global warming.

It was a year of international crises. As well as the conflict in Afghanistan we had civil war in Sri Lanka and an emerging nuclear threat from Iran. Nuclear testing took place in North Korea on two occaisions and was soundly condemned by the UN.

We became acquainted with Sarah Palin and the many facets of her life. We mourned the loss of many great people. Among them, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, whose mysterious death left us troubled and sad for his children.

It wasn't all bad. We did see a girl who was kidnapped as an eleven year old returned to her family eighteen years later. -- Sully Sullenberg landed flight 1549 in the hudson River after geese struck both engines and saved everyone on board. -- Hawaii made it illegal to text or talk on a cell phone while driving. -- We found water on the moon and NASA launched it's WISE mission. It will bring us accurate information on all the planets and objects around us in space to help us in our quest for an earthlike planet. -- On the whole it was a memorable year but not the kind we would take a whole lot of pleasure in remembering. Bring on 2010. I think it is going to be a year of amazing revelations.