Biggest news this late winter is the weather or the Olympics or Kiev depending on your interests or business. I have to admire the dedication of reporters in these areas that are far from home and in some cases in harm’s way. Their situations are difficult at best and to a person they are asked to serve many times a year. They speak with authority and write their own script or are really knowledgeable on their subject.
I enjoy watching such reporters. They portray a sincere sense of credibility. In my view, this is lacking in much of what we see and hear every day. I get disappointed in most social media because you can never trust what people post, even some friends. At times, it gets downright depressing. I’m a fairly positive guy and can accept bad news, but want it to be real and not someone’s exaggeration. I guess that’s why I’m drawn to the extreme reporters. They are real and if they say it’s bad, believe it – it’s bad. Like one of our daughters-in-law said recently, if Jim Cantore is in town, we’re screwed. BTW, he is in Nashville as I write this, not close but closer than we’d like!
The Olympics have been fun to watch this year. It still amazes me how much money and effort goes into the execution of the games for the host country. The US did well even though the women’s hockey team lost to Canada.
On the subject of sports, football head injuries for young players have really come to the forefront. This last season the refs and staff took them more seriously than I’ve ever seen before. I hope the same is happening in your area, especially for varsity and JV players in high school.
Finally, only time will tell how the Ukrainian situation will pan out. Watching the fighting in the streets tonight, I couldn’t help but draw comparison to our revolution 240 years ago. A historical document is touring the schools in Alabama. It is an original signature page from the 1774 petition to Great Britain for changes to the way this country was being treated. Of course, the petition was generally ignored and the American Revolution resulted. I don’t know how all this will pan out in the Ukraine, but historically when people take to the streets fighting, it’s not good for those in power - 240 years ago or today.
We pray that this writing finds you safe from harm’s way, warm and dry.
Gene Canavan is a retired West Point Graduate and Paper Mill Utilities Manager and lives in Prattville, Alabama, USA.
