Most Important Events of the Past Decade

During the past decade there were of course events that were important to each of us on a personal level. We grieved for lost loved mothers, fathers, children, and friends, we suffered divorce, we welcomed a new child, we celebrated new marriages, we rejoiced when a loved one was rescued from a mine shaft or downed aircraft, our children left for college, our husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters went to war, we lost homes, towns, savings, and jobs.

We grew 10 years older.

Still, we're all inter-connected in ways we know and in ways we don't know. Here are 10 events of the past decade that affected all or most of us in some manner; big and small.

1. George W. Bush wins election(2000) There's no doubt that Bush did what he thought was best for the country and at the same time he along with his people and the Congress were caught up in the tragic and historic moment of 911. The truth is they were scared but didn't dare show it. A good leader acts.

2. 911(2001) 2976 Americans murdered, 6000+ wounded, No more need be said

3. Enron Collapses (2001) Corporate excesses, lost jobs, lost savings, Sarbanes-Oxley Legislature

4. Afghanistan Invasion (2001) 932 US soldiers killed, 30,000 additional troops to deploy in 2010

5. Space Shuttle Columbia Breaks Up on Re-entry (2003) Seven crew lost, shuttle operations stopped for two years as was construction on International Space Station

6. Iraq Invasion (2003) Invasion, war, guerilla war, no WMDs, Saddam captured and executed, protests, Abu Grab, more protests, high oil prices, 4367 US soldiers killed, 30,000+ wounded

7. Hurricane Katrina (2005) 1830+ confirmed dead, 700+ missing, $80 billion loss, FEMA on the hot seat.

8. Recession (2008-?) Real Estate bubble bursts, TARP-US purchases $700 billion troubled assets, Circuit City, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, GM declares bankruptcy, 10% unemployment nationwide

9. Barrack Obama wins Election (2008) Obama finishes his first nine-months (2009) as could be expected-not much he could do. Most Presidents enter office not knowing what to do and most Americans not knowing what a President can do. Obama's legacy is yet to be written.

10. Death of Two Presidents (Ronald Reagan 2004, Gerald Ford 2006) No matter what anyone may say or write, any man elected to President is an exceptional man even if he doesn't do exceptional things. Two exceptional men passed from us during the last 10 years.

What's going to happen in the coming decade? No one knows. Rarely do concerns at the beginning of a decade turn out to be the real problems during the decade. The best we can do is keep on working, take care of our family, help other people, and pray.