What’s Really New About This 2017 New Year? Probably more things than we could ever imagine.
Here’s my 10 to 1 ranking of the top ten list of the new things in our everyday American, but even more specifically, Houston lives, about 2017 that we couldn’t even imagine this time last year. Some of them are the pain or joy buzzers of our unfortunately polarized political nation. Some are just amazing rearrangements of how we will need to think anew about certain aspects of history, no matter how small it may be in the minds of people who really don’t care a rat’s ankle about sports. Others are simply harvested from the fields of “It Is What It Is” phenomena that we reference so often in everyday conversation with each other. And a few of these items are simply the private new awarenesses that I probably should have digested years ago –
Our Top Ten New Things for 2017
10) We will not be inaugurating the first woman President of the United States on January 20th.
9) We will no longer be marveling over the fact that the Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908.
8) I will finally come to accept (at age mother-jumping 79 this coming New Years Eve) that “whatever UT wants, UT gets.”
7) I will take solace in the fact that those with absolute power in any realm shall also always avail themselves of certain consequential calamities and diseases that none of the rest of us can either reach or afford.
6) The Astrodome is not going to become part of the parking lot for an NFL club that could only win its division playoff spot because the other team missed a last play field goal by a kicker who used to do the same thing for the Texans.
5) The Astrodome is going to be brought back to life as a multi-purpose event center that is respectful of the building’s place in the world history of architecture.
4) Even Pecan Park is now undergoing a certain amount of gentrification in the Houston East End. Being “inside the Loop 610” seems to be growing as a new residential construction priority.
3) There’s no more Tal’s Hill at Minute Maid Park. With the shorter fences for major league baseball, the additional lefty power and other new pop in the Astros lineup, and a suspect pitching staff, the club will need to average a 14-11 us-to-them scoring ratio over the year to finish the 2017 season above .500.
2) Sadly, our local Larry Dierker Chapter of SABR lost 91-year old Marie “Red” Mahoney as a member on January 23 ,2016. The former “League of Their Own” player and member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame was an active regular participant in our baseball history and meeting activities to the very end.
1) President Donald Trump.
Footnote: We never promised you a rose garden.
Happy New Year, Anyway, No Matter What! ~ I’m going to be home with a contagious viral illness for a few days, but it is still easier for me to write – than not write.
Bear with me.
____________________
Publisher, Editor, Writer
The Pecan Park Eagle
The Pecan Park Eagle 
December 26, 2016 at 4:25 pm |
Side Bar to your Texas Wants Texas Gets:
Two of my Grandsons were over at the house and they were watching cartoons, somehow one of them hit the remote and The Longhorn Network popped on. Paw Paw…..Paw Paw they bollard in unison, the TV is broken the color is gone. As I turned around I immediately knew the problem, boys I said, everything is OK. That is The Longhorn Network and they haven’t won a meaningful Championship in so long that their Highlights are in Black and White….Geaux Tigers.
December 26, 2016 at 5:07 pm |
Bill, please consider this my get well card to you. Hope you recover quickly.
December 26, 2016 at 6:55 pm |
First and foremost is of course “Get Well Soon Bill” a person has to be well to cope with this crazy climate. Now on to the next comment….. Trump = a return to the rule of law… or at the very least I certainly hope so. The nation has endured an 8 year test of existence without leadership.. and that goes for both parties for sure.
December 26, 2016 at 7:37 pm |
Hi Bill.
A belated Merry Christmas and a healthy 2017 to you and your family Bill. I’m sorry to hear about your flu Bill so I’ll say a prayer for you.
December 27, 2016 at 1:41 am |
Instead of sending thoughts and prayers I will send some amoxicillin and vicks vapo rub. When in doubt choose medication versus prayer. A Heathen
December 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm |
As someone who has worked in the State Capitol Building for nearly 40 years, much of that time in state budget work, I can attest that your #3 is not correct. UT-Austin does not get everything it wants. The composition of the original Big 12 is but one testament to this point.