Bonnie Bing: Along with the craziness, some really good things happened in 2019.

Wouldn’t you know it, just when I was finally writing the correct year on a check (yes, I do still write a few checks) it’s time to put 2020 on the date line. How can that be? When you’re a child it is eons between birthdays, and Christmas rolls around as if it rode on the back of an ancient turtle.

But get a few years on you and before you know it you’re saying what your parents always said, “Time flies and the older you get the faster it flies.” But it’s like the weather: There’s not a darned thing we can do about it. So let’s just rock on and make 2020 a year we’ll look back on and smile, feel proud, grateful and happy. Too much? All right pick two of those. Remember, we’re not just getting a new year, this is a new decade.

For the past few years on New Year’s Day I have answered a list of questions that I made up. For example, “What is the best thing that happened all year?” “What is the worst thing?” What is something I learned this year?” And of course I set a few goals for the New Year.

A year later I look over the answers. Interesting. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. I would, however, recommend jotting a few things down. You don’t have to set goals or make resolutions, but just for fun put something on paper, put it in an envelope, seal it and look at it the first day of 2021. It’s a good way to personally reflect on the year that just ended.

We can all agree this was some year for politicians. Shouting, there is so much shouting. And joking. What would late night show hosts talk about if they didn’t have the looney political scene to talk about? Political cartoonists must be loving all this.

But some really good things also happened this year. For example there has been good news of medical research breakthroughs. Multiple scientists finally got a great photo of the Black Hole, which is something I’ve always been fascinated by. When I told my friend about the jubilant scientists, she said, “I thought your big ole purse was the black hole.”

Anyway, closer to home Douglas Avenue has never looked better with flowers, new buildings, and renovated buildings. Yes, people are living downtown and walking around spending time in the metro area. The beautifully restored carousel at Botanica is giving children a thrill as their grandparents reminisce about Joyland.

We rejoiced when babies were born to family members and friends, and cried when loved ones passed. It’s all part of living through another year.

While you’re looking back, think of the entire decade. Ten years ago we hauled around all kinds of gadgets: cameras, camcorders, a GPS, alarm clocks, flashlights and a notebook of reminders. Now we have our phones that do all of the above and more. Yes, the Smartphone changed and in my opinion it has changed us. We talk less, text more. And that’s just part of it. Everything has to be instant. Instagram used to be just an app. Now for some it is a way of life. And we all get to see that life if we choose to.

During the decade earthquakes, fires, volcano eruptions, tornadoes and floods were devastating to many. And without fail good people stepped into help when Mother Nature provided a catastrophe.

But the mind boggling mass killings during the past decade made us feel sad, angry and helpless. And it makes us wonder where are we truly safe?

It’s been a year, actually a decade, of challenges and successes. All we can do is look back, relish the good times, learn from the bad and go forward. Or as Fidelity Bank people would say, “Bravely Onward.” Indeed.

Happy New Year.