COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS OF THE LAST DAY OF 2010..........

We are down to a handful of hours in a year that was one of continuing economic challenges and high unemployment, in the United States of America and in much of the World.  A nearly century year old goal on the part of Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, came to fruition as the Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress, succeeded in enacting a National Health Care Reform Law.  The Tea Party became a contemporary political reality in the midterm election campaigns of the Republicans in US House and Senate races, in several states throughout the country.  The British Petroleum (BP) Oil Spill on the American Gulf Coast spread out over several months, adversely affecting the living conditions and livelihoods of millions and for nearly five months - despoiling with an uncontained daily waste of oil spilling into waters and washing up on beaches, in the Gulf coast.  Circumstances in the Afghanistan War after nine years of American combat activity led to our committing more troops, even as an exit strategy was being put into place.  And in California the seven years of, "The Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure in the Governor's Office, drew to an end with mixed results at best; while his elected successor as the 39th Governor of California, will be the 72 year old, who was the 34th Governor from 1975-1983, Jerry Brown; who defeated Silicon Valley Billionaire Businesswoman, Meg Whitman, who spent an astronomical $141 million of her personal fortune on her gubernatorial campaign.  The economic and political governance challenges facing the incoming Governor Brown, who will be sworn in this coming Monday, will be daunting and difficult; with a State deficit of nearly $3o billion.  Tonight, in these fleeting hours of 2010, our attentions are on counting down to the arrival of a New Year 2011, with its promise and potential for better, brighter, times for California, the United States, and the World.  Wherever, however, you are marking this 7th Day of Christmas and the Last Day of 2010, may you and yours, be filled with the hope filled expectation of a New Year and a productive journey ahead for all in the experiences that will be the Year of Our Lord, 2011 A.D. ..........Fr.  Troy