As the year winds down, I often find myself in comfy loungewear, sipping a glass of wine while trying to stay awake until midnight. Most years, I barely make it to the countdown, grumbling a half-hearted “Happy New Year” to my partner before retreating to bed.
Honestly, I’ve never really grasped the excitement surrounding New Year’s Eve. Why dress in uncomfortable formalwear and spend a fortune on mediocre champagne when I could be cozying up in my favorite pajamas, indulging in cookie dough, and revisiting classic films? I don’t set New Year’s resolutions, nor do I believe in the transformative power of a new calendar. January 1 is just another day, albeit with a different number.
But this year? This year is different. 2016 deserves an emphatic farewell.
Let’s be real—2016 was a disaster of epic proportions. It brought us the Zika virus, new Ebola cases, and a tainted water supply during the Olympics. Tragedies such as the Orlando nightclub shooting, the loss of Harambe the gorilla, and a toddler’s death at Disney—supposedly the happiest place on earth—left many of us reeling. Seriously, 2016, was nothing sacred?
The online comment sections became virtual wastelands, requiring hazmat suits to navigate. To top it off, the FDA cautioned against raw cookie dough, denying us even the small comfort of stress-eating our way through a tumultuous year without fearing gastrointestinal disaster.
The political landscape was equally disheartening. It reminded me of that infamous scene in Billy Madison where the principal declares, “What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.” We emerged from this election cycle feeling dumber, and I suspect we’ll need divine intervention to recover from the chaos.
Entertainment didn’t provide solace either, as we lost icons like Prince, David Bowie, and Carrie Fisher, while enduring the absurdity of reboots like Fuller House.
2016 felt akin to a relentless case of cramps combined with a severe bout of food poisoning—think projectile vomiting and night sweats. And who could forget the bizarre events that unfolded? From Ryan Lochte’s scandal to the rise of creepy clowns, it was a year that felt like a nightmare on repeat. Topics like police violence and the plight in Aleppo are too heavy to unpack here, so let’s save that for another discussion.
If there were a slogan for 2016, it would undoubtedly be “What the actual heck?”—a phrase I found myself using more often than I’d like to admit. It felt like we were living in an alternate reality, where nothing made sense.
Yet, amidst the wreckage, there were small glimmers of hope: Simone Biles dazzled at the Olympics, and new shows like This Is Us and Stranger Things captivated audiences. Families created unforgettable memories, babies entered the world, couples tied the knot, and—oh, the Cubs won the World Series! Yes, I’m shouting because for a devout Cubs fan, this victory after 108 years of heartache was monumental. It’s frustrating that such joy was overshadowed by the chaotic nature of the year, but perhaps it’s fitting given the absurdity of 2016.
In summary, aside from the brief euphoria of the Cubs’ triumph, 2016 felt like an ongoing slap in the face—a year of storms that flipped umbrellas inside out and left many of us feeling battered. So now it’s our turn to bid farewell to 2016. Goodbye and good riddance.
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Summary
Reflecting on the tumultuous year of 2016, Dr. Emily Carter expresses her disdain for the chaos and calamities that unfolded, from political turmoil to personal losses. Despite a few bright spots, the overall sentiment is one of relief in bidding farewell to a year marked by strife.