We stand humbly watching the elderly 2023 hobble to the gate, to await his departure in the pages of history. He sprung into view, a robust young child, not quite a year ago. He was ready to convert mankind into a thriving, caring, enduring, robust, successful free people. It is sad to see him now, his eyes water with the burns from the flames of war, his skin is burned by the intense rays of the sun, and he goes away breaking the record for the hottest year on record. He has his head wrapped and his ears covered, after listening to the hate screamed by members of our population toward each other. He looks sadly at us, and turns way, steps aboard the small craft that will take him to his final resting place among the archives of the records of his life. And as we watch 2023 vanish in the distance, we turn and look, as we hear the childish giggle of a small child, and see there, toddling to us, a fresh young child wearing a tall hat with 2024 emblazoned across the front. We smile as we gaze upon the freshness of the innocence of expression. We grin at the confidence of those unsteady first steps. But we thrill as we realize the new opportunities that this youngster will open to us. What will he bring for the next 365 ¼ days? Will he bring great breakthroughs in medicine? Will he bring discoveries that will help feed the world, and abolish hunger? Can there be peace and security under his rule? Will he bring great wisdom and understanding to the world? We all wish for these things, but are we deceiving ourselves. Is this a thing of time, or is it only wishful thinking? We need to think back, and reflect on poor old 2023. The downcast countenance , the exhausted body, the look of dejection. Maybe, just maybe, we are too tough on our years. Perhaps we should work harder on ourselves, and take a load of the time that passes us by. In the last year we have had a lot of media attention of the possibilities of UFO’s and alien presence. Some hope they might come offer us
