An artist I am not! However, I do admire the works of great prominent painters and appreciate the work of local artists. The blending of colors are fascinating as well as the expressions on faces and landscapes. No doubt each picture painted was inspired by a person or event.

Unlike the masters 2009 had no control of what would be painted on the canvas of events and the outcome even though it has done its job. Rotating the hours of the day into weeks, months until year’s end was accomplished. What transpired during that time was the brushes were held by humans who painted the strokes creating a picture that history will record.

I begin this imaginary portrait by picking up a brush. The first color selected and placed center left on the canvas is what appeared to be yellow but was actually lime. The color of the outfit that was worn by The First Lady Michelle Obama on January 20,2009 for the swearing in of her husband Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. What a beautiful sight they made as they walked hand in hand down Pennsylvania Avenue waving to well wishers along the way.

The brush would then select stark white the color of the First Lady’s Inaugural Ball’s elegant gown to be placed alongside the lime color to denote trust the American people had in electing the first African American President of the United States.

Overhead a stroke of gold would be added denoting the promise of new beginnings, new directions and a new administration.

Across the top of the canvas long strokes of shaded grays would be brushed in denoting the War in Iraq, the extended time of this war with talks of possible withdrawal by year’s end. Blotches of red would be splattered throughout the gray representing the bloodshed by our American troops.

Green would be selected for the money known as the Stimulus Bill given by our federal government for the bank and car industry bailouts. Forest green in heavy strokes would be applied designating the money given to the bankrupt insurance company where salaries and bonuses of executives exceeded $500,000.00 were taken without shame or remorse. Perhaps the tone known as blush should be blended in for shame. It would seem that a drab picture is being drawn and bright colors should be blended in. Unfortunately, the darkness of economic conditions, the highest unemployment rates with job losses by the thousands, and massive home losses oblige the color black.

Perhaps, blue should be streaked in for the quick thinking and control of Captain Sully for landing the American Airline Jet on the Hudson River and saving the lives of all the passengers on board.

Dashes of pink are added for the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayer as the 11th Justice of the United States Supreme Court and for being the first Hispanic to hold the seat on the highest court in the land.

Once more a splash of gold for the Nobel Peace Prize won by President Barak Obama, the fourth U.S. President to receive the award and the third while serving in office.

Streaks of conflict and uncertainty represented in streaks of red and blue concerning the Health Care Reform Bill is scattered through most of the year until its passage in late December.

Sadly the colors of khaki and gray representing the additional 30,000 American troops deployed to Afghanistan to stabilize that country’s government must be added.

Portrait of 2009 would not be complete without adding how history will record the activities that transpired in Luzerne County and surrounding area that affected our lives and standards of living.

My brush selects brown, dark brown, darker brown for the corruption, deceit, dishonesty, and breakdown of our juvenile justice system, under the prestigious dome known as the Luzerne County Court House. Same color is applied to the public officials, educators, and board members who failed to serve with honor due to their lack of judgment and perhaps morals.

Activities in my beloved Pittston are added for posterity. What comes to mind is the very successful Tomato Festival held yearly and the many people who are devoted to planning and implementing this very successful event. The Farmer’s Market, though it had a late start due to Mother Nature, welcomed many happy and satisfied patrons. Happily, splashes of red dot the lower end of the portrait.

Adding strokes of pink for the recent marker dedicated to the women of greater Pittston who worked in the garment industry and sustained the area economically while supporting their families as well. Their contributions can never be forgotten.

On the lower right hand side of the portrait I leave a blank corner. The corner is William Street where once stood a magnificent building which housed retail stores, dance studios, small business and more. In the blankness is also added the destruction of a 107 year old treasure that was part of Pittston’s history, St. John the Baptist Church, erected by immigrants of Slovak descent which stood as a strong fortress of Christian faith. The emptiness serves as a requiem to the beloved St. John the Baptist Church, rectory, convent, school and gymnasium. The emptiness is the pain for what was and must now live in our hearts. “Lest We Forget.”

Finally, the portrait is completed with much fanfare of silver, gold, and sparkles for the New Year of 2010. May it be filled with hope, peace, love and a brighter portrait than 2009. Happy New Year!

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Archives

No resolutions for 2012

Looking for that Christmas magic

October snow and November days

Celebrating our heritage, honoring our ancestry

August was a roller coaster ride

Thoughts on a rainy day

Happy birthday, America

The merry month of May, and April too

The cousins come home to visit

Where the journey ends