My 2022 Wish: Little Spit

In 2022, I pray we’ll escape COVID’s clutches, be kind, rediscover statesmanship and civility, address the needs of others, plan for the future, rebuild families and communities, and become well-informed voters unencumbered by Democratic and Republican partisan politics. Good luck with that.

The Professor and I have a saying when we want something that we’re pretty sure won’t materialize: wish in one hand, spit in the other. I’ve had my fill of spit.

Used to be I’d spend the last few days of the year thinking about society’s trajectory and pen an impassioned piece urging us to rediscover our better selves. Try to sow aspirational seeds. Those seeds are all but dead now, so here’s a grain of truth instead.

Call me cynical, but I no longer believe we’re capable. Too many have gone to the dark side. So after years of exhorting you that together we can (my long-ago campaign slogan), I’ve finally acknowledged that in fact we can’t. Or better said, won’t.

More than any other time in history, it’s Jesus-take-the-wheel time. We’ve got to get off the crazy pendulum swings that propel us toward catastrophe. The only way out of this mess is to admit we’ve mucked everything up. Realize we’re closer than ever to hitting bottom and start climbing again. The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. Just say uncle.

But while I had hoped these things would be evident to thinkers and lemmings alike, they’re not and I’m afraid this doesn’t end well.

Here’s my wish again: that we’ll develop (or be brought to) true humility, kindness, forgiveness, and love. That we’ll abandon our hubris, stop driving this nightmare bus, and pray.

In short, may 2022 be the year of very little spit.