Looking back at 2007

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

By Bill Sniffin

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - The beginning of a new year is always a good time to look back at the events of the past year. While looking back at the past year’s columns, some interesting developments come to mind. For example:

Best known: One of my most controversial columns this year was when I speculated that Vice President Dick Cheney was the most famous Wyomingite ever. There is a compelling argument, however, that our Buffalo Bill Cody was the best-known person in the world, next to the Queen of England, back at the end of the 19th century.

My liberal sister Mary, who owns a newspaper in Iowa, says that five years now no one will remember who Dick Cheney was. My even more liberal brother, Tom, in South Carolina, says Mr. Cheney will be more “infamous” than famous. Obviously I disagree. The Veep is tops when it comes to world recognition.

That same column included a long list of famous Wyoming people, but two big ones that were omitted were J. C. Penney, who started his department store chain in Kemmerer, and actor Harrison Ford, of Jackson Hole, who has appeared in more blockbuster movies than anyone in history.

New gadgets: In a column about gadgets I admitted my confusion over why kids today “text” rather than “talk” on the cell phones. Although no good answer emerged to that burning question, a great burning answer did come forth from one of my readers: “C’mon Bill, be thankful they are texting and are NOT yacking on the phones all this time. It would be a cacophony.” Well said.

Wonders: A column about the Seven Wonders of Wyoming created lots of local commentary. Most of the abuse came from people here in Fremont County, who (like me) are convinced they live in God’s country. Also, my boating buddies at Flaming Gorge just could not believe that that body of water was not included in my top seven list.

Interstate 80: Readers of this column know that lots of opinions of this road emanate in this space. Truckers seem to get offended by my references to them as smoke-belching behemoths driven by drug-crazed flatlanders, etc. etc. Apparently they take umbrage to this, and they should. Fully 99 percent of truckers are great, but even if just 1 percent of the 6,000 that travel the highway each day are troubled, well, that means you have to deal with 60 ugly ones out there on any trip you take. In the winter, I boycott the road.

Christmas column: Karen Gibbons of Laramie sent me this in response to my holiday column about telling your parents how you felt during special times while growing up at home: “My dad was in the oil business with all its ups and downs. One day in Denver during the 1960s oil bust, my mother was lamenting that she needed a new bra but had no money while my dad was looking at a catalog for expensive boats and thinking about buying one. The scene was so bizarre. Mom didn’t have any money. And dad did have the credit for buying the boat. When I pointed that out, we all laughed until we cried at the absurdity of it all. It is one moment I will always remember. What I wouldn’t give to spend another morning with them … thanks for reminding me of how important memories are.”

2007 changes: We said goodbye to U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas and hello to his successor, Sen. John Barrasso. A column called “When Superman Died” was about heroic Lander climber Todd Skinner who died in a freak accident at Yosemite.

Our New Year’s column in 2007 predicted continuous huge budget surpluses for the legislature. Apparently that trend is over, as we will see much smaller ones in the near future.

Thanks so much for reading, and Happy New Year to all my friends and readers out there.

Bill Sniffin is a long-time Wyoming journalist from Lander and author of the books,
“High Altitudes, Low Multitudes” and “The Best Part of America.”
His email is bsniffin@wyoming.com.

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Looking back at 2007 | Planet JH News Article: Left Wing Local

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