Happy New Gear

 As I write this people across the United States are starting to ring in the new year, starting from the east coast and continuing to the west. I can say with a fair amount of certainty that most folks, myself included, are eager to kiss 2020 goodbye and usher in 2021 with high hopes. This blog has been many things to me: a sounding board, mental therapy, reference, a personal history source, and I have accurately nailed many "firsts" on these very pages. Just a warning: this is one of those posts where I go "off subject" but I feel a strong need to type out some of these thoughts that have been building up in my head, lest I burst. So you are probably wondering, just as I am, what 2021 has in store for us. I hesitate to predict the following but I feel it must be said. I really hope I can look back on this someday and say how wrong I was...

Let me begin by saying that 2021 will be no 2019, that is, as much as I feel we all want things to go back to the way they were the simple truth is they won't, at least not for quite a while. According to some sources maybe never, depending on who ends up leading our country. The virus or new wave of viruses will get worse. It is already happening. Division will be deep and distrust will be rampant. It is already happening. People will reach their breaking point. It is already happening. I have already seen events scheduled for next spring cancelled. Others have cancelled their physical events and switched to "virtual' ones instead. What do they know that we don't? Fear and loathing will be the new mantra if certain factions have their way. I hate being Johnny Raincloud but almost all indicators are pointing in this direction. 

So what can we do? If you are religious, pray like you have never prayed before. Heck, even if you aren't that religious pray anyway. We need all the help we can get. Email your Congressman and Senator to tell them your concerns. If they get enough emails they will start to pay attention to the people that elected them. Remember they work for us. Don't be afraid of the truth, no matter what it turns out to be. Keep an open mind and listen to your gut. Just because you don't want to hear a certain version of events does not mean that there is not validity in it. Demand sources, proof, and do your own vetting. Forget about "anonymous sources", "an inside source", "spoke on condition of anonymity", and other similar crap. In short, do some of your own homework. 2021 is not the year to trust just anyone feeding you information, especially social media.

 In closing I would like to say that I am still holding out hope that the new year will bring back some normalcy. With that said and shifting gears, I will now return this page back to normal. Back to cool car stuff, trivia, stories, and of course updates on my project car. Here is to a Happy New Gear!