Well what do ya know, it鈥檚 mid-December and we鈥檙e already staring down the barrel of another new year in less than a couple of weeks.聽 Time has once again managed to cruise on by without a moment鈥檚 rest, and now we鈥檙e looking at 2018 in the rear-view mirror.
I know I say it at the end of every year, but man, it just seems like as if you simply blink and three or four months have just jetted by on the calendar.聽 I feel like August was just yesterday, I really do.聽 I mean, did fall even happen?聽 I can鈥檛 even remember walking outside and feeling that satisfying *CRUNCH* of the leaves under my feet.
But that鈥檚 life.聽 Time stops for no man and it鈥檚 up to us to maximize the moments that we have.
What will I remember most about 2018?聽 Well, I鈥檇 say it鈥檚 a healthy mix of things on both the professional and personal level.
I鈥檒l remember the epic and monumental birthday celebrations held for Lucky Lake resident Donald Couch way back in February.聽 It was skin-numbingly cold, but that didn鈥檛 stop hundreds of people from coming out to mark Donald鈥檚 100th birthday.聽 The biggest kicker was when the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron out of Winnipeg did a fly-by over the village, dropping cake and balloons in honor of the World War II veteran鈥檚 big day.聽 I was able to get a few precious minutes with the birthday boy, and I enjoyed his simple take on living a long life and appreciating every minute of it.聽 I was happy to see that the story really connected with people, as a video clip I shot of the fly-by had over 10,000 views and boatloads of shares, comments and reactions on our Facebook page.
I鈥檒l remember that feeling of instant shock, coupled with elation and immense gratitude that I felt when my name was announced as Columnist of the Year at the Better Newspapers Competition held in April in Saskatoon.聽 Yes, it鈥檚 incredible to just be nominated for such an honor, but I don鈥檛 mind saying that it鈥檚 so much more when you actually receive it.聽 It felt like an encouraging slap on the back for a job well done, and I hope that this column continues to resonate with readers week in and week out.聽 I also hope that my work in 2018 allows me the opportunity to 鈥渄efend my title鈥� at the 2019 awards banquet.
I鈥檒l remember the sad and tragic 鈥渢rend鈥� of suicide that permeated over this regional area.聽 In the span of one calendar year from July-July, there were six times where someone felt so mentally tormented and emotionally terrorized that the only course of action they saw was to end it all.聽 It was simply heartbreaking to watch unfold.聽 I hope that anyone who believes they have nowhere to turn for help of any kind knows that they can reach out.
I鈥檒l remember the seemingly never-ending staff changes at the top as it relates to the Town of Outlook.聽 It鈥檚 been a crazy year for the administrative level in this town, so much so that whenever a new name would come along, I鈥檇 almost hesitate to write a 鈥済et to know them鈥� piece because it became a question of how long *this* one would be sticking around.聽 That being said, I think local officials would be the first to tell you that consistency hasn鈥檛 been a strong suit in the last year and change, but here鈥檚 hoping they鈥檝e got all their ducks in a row for 2019 and beyond.
I鈥檒l remember the two-week summer break back in August where I went out and rediscovered my home province.聽 You could call it a staycation since I technically never left the province, but I sure logged some serious clicks.聽 Among the highlights was my day-long trip down to Eastend to check out the T-Rex Museum.聽 Having my photo taken with the largest-known Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton allowed me to cross something off my proverbial bucket list.聽 I enjoyed the homegrown feel of the break and I think it鈥檚 a theme that I鈥檒l continue in 2019.
I鈥檒l remember the fact that in 2018 鈥� and really every other year before 鈥� you put your trust in us as your go-to news source for all things connected to Outlook and the surrounding regional area.聽 It goes without saying that we appreciate it, and the responsibility of providing you with the news of what鈥檚 happening in your communities is one that we don鈥檛 take lightly.聽 In a world where anyone with a smartphone or a tablet can claim to be a media source, we hope you know that The Outlook is true Canadian journalism that isn鈥檛 scared to present all the facts and without bias.聽 We鈥檙e not here to sell you a narrative; we鈥檙e here to inform you of what鈥檚 happening in your part of the world.
I鈥檓 very curious to see where Outlook and surrounding area is headed in 2019.聽 You coming for the ride?
For this week, and for the last time in 2018, that鈥檚 been the Ruttle Report.
