I won’t punch you in the throat, however, I may be the only one.
Seems everyone is pretty upset with you because Carrie Fischer just died. And then her mother died. And a few days ago George Michael. Don’t forget about David Bowie and Prince. They also died this year. More than 37 famous people died on your watch (and 58 million regular folks) and apparently everyone hates you for it.
Currently trending on my Facebook feed…
- I want to punch 2016 in the throat!
- What George and now Carrie? WTF 2016?
- 2016 – you officially suck.
- #RIPCarrie — and same for you 2016
2016, there’s an awful lot of people who are pissed off at you and I’d like to apologize on behalf of everyone who thinks your a dick. It’s not your fault, I know that. These are probably the same folks who I’m sure were also pissed off at 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011….you get the picture. So please don’t take it personally 2016, it’s just the time of year.
If it makes you feel any better, you’re in good company. 2,016 years of company to be exact. If you need some counseling, I’m sure you could get some great advice from 2014 because he took Robin Williams and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and poor 2013 was really an asshole, he took Tony Soprano.
Wouldn’t it be great that instead of hating you they could, instead, pull the persons birth year out of the old storage chest left in the attic, blow off the dust and give it a grand hug for delivering such an amazing human being to our world?
It’s too bad that people seem to hate you right before you’re over. Seem’s sort of fickle and, well, rude. They loved you early on, but well, they’re over you now. It’ll be the same for 2017 at the end, so please don’t take it personally.
I also think it’s very unfair how everyone gangs up on you between Christmas and New Years. They just want you over with and to start fresh and new. I get it, your a metaphor for all the rotten things happening in the world and it’s easier to just look forward and bury the past like a dirty bone. I wonder if they know they can do that every single morning when they wake up? Ya know, look forward? Do they understand they don’t have to wait an entire year to change, that they have a do-over daily?
I also wonder if they understand that by hating the past they only continue to bring that energy to their present, and ultimately their future? So maybe we should give a heads up to 2017 and let him know he’s next in line for verbal abuse and throat bashing.
Sorry buddy.
My husband died on Thanksgiving—2016. I don’t hate you for it and I don’t want to punch you in the face nor do I want to call you an asshole. I want to lay a big fat kiss on you just for being there for me. I love you for all you’ve given me 2016 and I got your back on this. I’ll tend to your bruises, stitch your cuts and mend your wounds while the haters hate.
Blaming you, 2016, for things I can’t control—like death—takes away my power. Wanting to punch you in the throat would take away the memories of 23 beautiful years. It would mean that I didn’t appreciate his life or that this amazing person contributed such beautiful moments and treasures to this world—just by being alive.
I wanted to be fully present during the last few months of my husbands life and I wanted to be there when he left this world. I did both. I wanted those memories. I truly loved him unconditionally and as gut-wrenchingly painful as it was—and still is—hating you, 2016, would negate that entire experience and for that matter, every other wonderful experience I’ve had this year. Calling you a dick would negate the sad moments too. And those are especially important. Out of ruin comes transformation and I am profoundly changing because of my sadness. I would prefer to die myself than to give that up.
A not-so-famous man (my husband) used to always say, “None of us are gettin’ outta here alive”. And damn if he wasn’t right. So I’m sorry that people need to hate you and blame you and lash out at you because they can’t control the uncontrollable. I don’t think they realize that they give up their power when they do that. I guess people just need a thing to blame for when they are sad and you drew the short straw.
You and your buddies—2011 through 2015— should get together with some sort of game-plan to help these folks understand that you really aren’t responsible for their unhappiness, anger and sadness. Maybe advertise a discount or group rate right before the holidays? You could call it the Punch-You-In-The-Throat Support Group, or something along that line. Facebook would be a great place to post an ad since your target market is there.
You’re my friend 2016 and I appreciate what you gave and what you took away, metaphorically speaking of course, because I know you cannot take anything away.
For sure it’s been a challenging year, for everyone, but it seems people can’t see the forest for the trees and then they wonder why they are always angry at the forest for not being there for them.
There were over 143 million births so far this year and I’d be willing to bet that each and every one of them will better our world in one way, shape or form. Some may become actors, or performers, poets or politicians, tile setters or architects, chefs or teachers, or leaders in their community. Some may change a life by saving one. They’ll be doing this from the year 2016 (yay, that’s you!) to quite possibly 2116, and many of them will die along the way. Well, all of them will die.
How about if we celebrate what 2016 gave us instead?
2 Comments
Hi Lorri, I too am not mad at 2016 for like Garth Brooks said, “i would of had to miss the dance”. We have joined a club that requires your husband”s death for admittance. I feel so lost and yet don’t even know or understand why. Things around me are the same yet so different. The quiet in our home is probably the hardest to face. If you ever want to get coffee, tea or whatever, let me know. I am looking for a grief group but have only found very traditional religious groups, which I am not.
Take very good care of yourself. I think of you often since Thanksgiving.
Much love, Laura Schroeder
Dear Laura, so sorry this took a year to get to you. I pulled the old blog down and just launched the new one and your comment thankfully transferred over. I hope this past year has been healing for you and you have found your way without Roger. It’s most definitely a difficult and surreal process. I would love to get together for tea if you’d like. Just give me a holler and we’ll set something up. XXOO