By Michael Cole

 

Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.”

Usually o,n the last few days of the year, I usually go into a bit of a mini-depression. Looking back on my year and thinking of things that I could have done differently, things I am proud of, and people that have come in and out of my life.

The end of each year reminds me that each moment is precious, and that we cannot stop the movement of time.

I found myself thinking about things that have happened in my life that have changed the world.

In 1991, the year ended and so did the Cold War. I had always thought that the Soviet Union had ended on this day in 1991, but found out that is was on Christmas Day (what a present to the world).

Being a Cold War kid living under the threat of Nuclear War, the children of the pre-1992 children have a different perspective on the world than those born or coming of age after it.

Ironically, we all looked at the post Soviet Era would be one of more peace, more prosperity for the Global Community.

We now are finishing nearly 18 years of endless wars on Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIL.

Arguably, the world is less safe today.

The world is also less funny today than it was.

On this day in 1995, Bill Watterson decided to hang up his pen and end the series Calvin and Hobbes. For those of us fortunate enough to read the strips as they came out, remember the antics of a boy and his imaginary Tiger friend.

Watterson felt he had acheieved all he could in the comic medium.

The two events may seem completely random and unrelated, but on a certain level, they are very much connected.

On one hand, the death of the Soviet Union showed that things are never too big to fail. That immovable objects can be moved.

The end of Calvin and Hobbes shows me that all good things need to end; that there is a point you have to know when to walk away.

So wherever you are this New Years Eve, no matter your situation, things change.

It is up to us to make the best of it and to change with time.

Happy 2019

 

Michael Cole is a syndicated columnist that when he is not writing, he is plotting global domination. You can follow him at www.storyoveracup.com