2014 was unforgettably forgettable

The year 2014 is one I don’t want to remember but will never forget.

As we sit on the doorstep of 2015 it’s worth a moment to reflect and what was and ponder what can be. One of the first columns I wrote for The Sealy News last year was based on resolutions and predictions. I correctly predicted that the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys would not be in the Super Bowl. My beloved Denver Broncos were – until the first snap of the game.

I talked about changes to come, including a new county judge, my daughter studying abroad in Italy and my son graduating from high school. Heather did have a remarkable semester in Florence, Italy. My son, however, didn’t graduate from Brazos High School. He just recently graduated from University of Texas High School online from his new home with his grandparents in Florida.

It’s a long story that I won’t get into and remains part of the reason I really don’t care for the year that passed. The biggest reason had to do with the Grim Reaper coming for my mother, grandmother, a cousin, an uncle and a couple of acquaintances. 

When I joined the staff at the newspaper on Jan. 2, I had achieved my biggest goal for the year and that was to be employed back at a community newspaper. At the time I was the newbie. By August I was the editor and the longest tenured person on staff. That’s a lot of change and some new friends come and gone. Even now we’re looking for a new reporter and an advertising representative.

There have been some highlights, including skydiving at Westside Skydivers Houston, getting to meet Steve Wariner, seeing Ronnie Milsap in concert and renewing some old friendships. I’m fulfilling a decades-long dream to fix my teeth but am not happy with the pain and discomfort of braces.

Looking ahead, 2015 promises to be an interesting year. We have a new county judge in Tim Lapham. The Sealy City Council will most likely go $15 million in debt to make upgrades to the sewer plant and build an indoor recreation facility. We will see presidential campaigns kicking into high gear. I suspect we will continue to see unrest between police and minorities, though hopefully not here in Austin County.

Sealy should see a new police chief this year with the retirement of John Tollett. We will see some serious traffic congestion this spring when repairs are made to the Hwy. 90 bridge, so be ready for that. The Legislature is in session and there is no telling what will come out of Austin in the coming months. Speaking of which, we will soon have a new state representative to replace Lois Kolkhorst, who is now our state senator.

I know a lot of residents will be happy to see the Sealy ISD take the wrecking ball to the Best Budget Inn here in the next few days. If all goes as desired by the school district, the demolition will continue down Hwy. 90 to the Pueblo Motel. I suspect that area will look radically different by the time the Tigers kick off the next football season.

On the curiosity front, look for the launch of the Elio, a three-wheeled vehicle that gets 84 mpg and retails for $6,800. I really want one of those! Other things of interest include some eagerly awaited movies including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Speaking of movies, Sealy’s own Roderick Green will make his big-screen debut as an extra in “Taken 3” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.”

Thinking of movies, mark your calendars on Oct. 21, 2015, as that is the day Doc and Marty fly their DeLorean to the future in “Back to the Future 2.” It’s hard to believe that the future has arrived!

On that note, I will leave you with a wish that 2015 is a season of joy and prosperity in your life.