Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

I subscribe to Charles Dickens’ view of the world: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” He was writing about the French Revolution, and I’m writing about 2005. But the basic principles apply; each time is both joyous and disheartening.

I’ve thought about my personal life and tried to recall anything I would put on the “Worst” list. Nothing comes to mind. Which means I’ve led an enchanted twelve months, enjoying family gatherings, personal achievement, and financial security. Oh sure, our bathroom remodeling took eight weeks rather than four; but in the grand scheme of things it wasn’t so bad to have bathrooms suitable for photographing in Architectural Digest.

Our flower gardens didn’t bloom as anticipated, due to the extended drought in southwestern Michigan; but with our sprinkler system they did their best. Mother Nature always holds the trump card.

So why bother with a “Worst” list? Well, for me it’s to recall those things in our society that need attention, maybe even fixing. And this year they include the following, not necessarily in order of significance:

1. Sandra Day O’Connor resigned from the Supreme Court. What’s sad about this is that it may go down in history as a turning point regarding the composition of the Supreme Court.

2. The drought in southwestern Michigan, where I live, caused great havoc for local farmers, many of whom are reeling from previous seasons of inopportune frost and rain.

3. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita sent millions packing. Many are still displaced; but, for the most part, the world has moved on. I guess Andy Warhol was right about everyone’s fifteen minutes of fame.

4. Over 2000 men and women have died in our most recent foray into world politics in the name of democracy.

As I write this, I realize that only one of these things on the list is capable of fixing. The rest seem to be in the realm of natural disasters. But if there are those out there who want to disagree or add to my list, please let me know. 2005 was a wonderful year for me and mine, but I believe the world at large was a more difficult place in which to maneuver.