By South OB Girl
It will be a challenge to come up with something more poignant than Ernie’s poem, with his great knack for words and rhyme.
I’ve lived in a few places in the world, but San Diego will always be home. It has sadly become a little harder to say “home sweet home.” It is not so sweet here anymore. Being ranked #1 in the United States for inflation is nothing to be proud of.
San Diego has the potential to be a really great city. For many years it has been great.
Here in OB, we have enjoyed over a hundred years of greatness! Why are so many people doing such a great job trying to wreck it? Along with many other San Diegans, I have lost positivity about many aspects of local politics. Hope and positivity about state and national politics have also declined significantly for me too.
Yet, amidst this turmoil, our crooked tree at the beach in December and the Holiday Parade make me smile. The parade has thankfully not lost its sense of humor, it is as jolly as ever, and the woodies in all their splendor still lead the procession down Newport Ave. Several of our local leaders here in OB, on the Planning Board, with the OB Community Foundation, with the OB Historical Society, with the OB Woman’s Club, with SOHO, as well as friends and neighbors who are not involved in organized groups or societies all give me hope.
I have more faith in the capabilities and integrity of many of these OBceans than I do in most of our elected officials.
And my fellow Ragsters give me hope too. They realize that the power of words and journalism remain a force to be reckoned with. I see in fellow Ragsters dedication to their writing, whether they are reporting on local news bits or writing to promote justice and a better world. I see heart and passion in my fellow Ragsters, whether they are writing on big news or small.
To all the people out there who promoted positive vibes amidst so many troubles in 2025, I am grateful to you. All this doomsday negativity I have dwelled on is however NO way to head into 2026! This is no mindset to have. Having a bad attitude is not the way to fuel the movements, the campaigns, the missions, and the objectives that will be necessary to accomplish positive changes in this world.
May the strength and power I see and hear in so many OBceans and San Diegans make 2026 a year of hope for us all!
