The Year in Review

Each year, TIME magazine puts together a full-length edition displaying images, text and memories as we move from one year to the next. Here is a recap of 5 of my favorite news stories from 2008; however my words are not as good as the real thing. If you can still find it on newsstands, pick it up. If for not any other reason than just to have it – 2008 was a historical year and you should want something to remember it by.

1. The meltdown – “firms that seemed sturdy pillars of the nation’s wealth were exposed as hollow shells and trillions of dollars of American’s wealth went up in smoke in a stock market meltdown” (TIME).

An image in TIME showed a young woman joined in the protest on Wall Street on Sept 25th holding a sign, “I’ve got a 4.0 GPA, $90,000 in debt & No Job. Where’s My Bail Out?” American’s were paying the highest gas prices in my lifetime, losing their jobs on Wall Street as famous US companies entered into Chapter 11, while declaring Chapter 11 themselves because they couldn’t pay their sub-prime mortgage. Just this week we learned that a former top executive from Merrill-Lynch, who was only employed for 4 weeks prior to the meltdown took a $25-million payout and purchased a $35-million apartment in New York City.

What’s next? How will American recover? Can American recover? Will we rise again?

2. Rock Star vs. Old White-haired Guy – an election that made history, both in the cast of characters, the media criticism and the voting turnout. Can President-elect Obama fulfill his campaign promises? Does he have the leadership to rebuild this nation, to concur and overcome the economic crisis? Will he put American’s back to work?

I pointed to a picture of Barack Obama and asked my 7 year old niece if she knew who he was. She said “that is Borock Bobmma and he is the President.” I pointed to John McCain, asking the same question. Her response “that is John McLame, the guy that tried to be President but lost”. I couldn’t have summed it up better. Borock Bobmma and John McLame.

3. Yearning for Zion – Texas state authorities raided the compound, which is part of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, taking over 400 children into protective custody. TIME writer Hilary Hylton wrote “the state is not saying ‘Don’t wear those dresses’. It is saying you can’t have sex with 11-year olds”. The state of Texas later released the children back into their mother’s care, who ultimately returned to the Yearning for Zion ranch and their polygamist families.

4. Michael Phelps and the Beijing Olympics – The tone of the Olympic games was set with the split second underwater shot of Phelps reaching the wall first over Serbia swimmer Milorad Cavic. It was clear at that moment that Phelps’ dream of winning 7 gold metals in a combination of 7 team and individual races was going to become a reality.

Much inline with the political figures, I pointed to Michael Phelps and asked my niece who he was. She said “hum, that’s the guy who won 7 gold metals. I don’t remember his name.” I said “Michael Phelps”. She said “oh yeah, Michael Felts.”

5. The fall of another – Eliot Spitzer was not a common name in much of the country prior to 2008, mostly due to his very public sex scandal. I’m not convinced that even following the negative press, many American’s even remember his name in light of all the other news of 2008. I thought his “fame” was worth mentioning. I’m sure it is a moment that he will never forget, despite if the rest of us remember.

In addition to the news coverage of 2008 as reviewed in TIME’s The Year in Review – they list milestones, celebrating the life and work of those who pasted in 2008. Again, I have pulled my favorites.

Tim Russert, 1950-2008
Paul Newman, 1925 – 2008
Jesse Helms, 1921 – 2008
George Carlin, 1937 – 2008
Charlton Heston, 1923 – 2008
Heath Ledger, 1979 – 2008
Bernie Mac, 1957 – 2008

The most important milestone to me was not covered by TIME; the untimely and unexpected passing of Elizabeth “Betty” Dittler (1925 – 2008), my grandmother. She passed away on August 8th following a short illness. She was survived by her husband, Harry, two daughters, Kathy and Dottie and two grandchildren, David and Amanda. As my mother planned the memorial service, she asked for refreshments for about 25 people – every church pew was filled with over 65 people who took time to celebrate the life of Betty. She is missed everyday.

We love you Betty.