Hopes and Dreams for 2023

The opinions in this feature are strictly those of the author, and not necessarily those of NightMoves/AAN

I have been on this planet for over eight decades and I have been through the good, the bad and the ugly. Yet, with all of bad and ugly that I have seen and lived through, there is nowhere else on this great earth that I would rather be than right here in the good old USA.

No, this country isn’t perfect and never has been. But it is damn close to being perfect despite all of the foibles, misgivings, misdirection’s and problems we have faced since the Pilgrims first landed here 402 years ago. Yes, we complain about the dirty politics, the liars and cheaters, inflation, high gas prices, high costs of owning a home and a myriad of other daily problems, but look around the globe and see how better off we are in the overall picture.

So, at this stage of my life what do I wish for in 2023? The first and main thing I wish for is world peace. I know, must of you laugh and feel that can never happen considering what is taking place in the world today. But I truly believe that people like Putin know what they are doing is fruitless and could end up destroying not one country, but the world as we know it. It won’t happen overnight, but I truly believe that by late spring all of the fighting, destruction and loss of lives will come to an end and peace will be restored. I also hope in 2023 that politicians will come together as an unbiased group, take a really deep look at this country and vow to fix it and fix it right so that all of us regardless of color, creed, sexuality, religion can live in a country to be proud of in every way. If there was one thing, among others, that Trump had right it was to “Make America Great Again” and that has not happened as it should have. In 2023 it is time to do just that because this country, regardless of political party, is at a very serious crossroads in its history.

As for other wishes in 2023, I wish that all of you find, love, peace, good health and find some way, at least once, to pay it forward, I know that I will. One act of kindness in whatever form can do wonders for the soul. I wish for 2023 that our economy balances out and that people will be able to afford things they haven’t been able to. I wish that 2023 will be a year when we have had the last of more vaccines, masks, pandemics and widespread fear. I wish that in 2023 those of you who have had life long dreams can finally find a way to make them come true and enrich your lives.

As for me personally, I have already been blessed and rewarded with my son and his health and life scare being taken care of and getting his health and life back. I just hope that 2023 continues to bless me with good health, the love of my profession, to keep working and writing and being blessed with a fantastic woman in my life, Carole, who continues to give me reasons to live and to love. I am blessed to have two great brothers from other mothers, Paul Allen Cianci and Vern Allen who make each day special in so many ways. On personal sports note I hope that 2023 will see my Tampa Bay Rays win their first World Series. Last, and by no means less important, to all of you who are a part of my life either in person or through social media, I can never, ever thank you enough.

Now let’s all pull together and make the year 2023 one of the best we have all enjoyed in a long, long time. We have done it before and we can do it again. Happy 2023!

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN