MARIE WUJEK MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

Well, did you kiss 2008 goodbye and welcome 2009 with open arms? It's a new year, a new beginning, a new chapter.

On Jan. 20 a new president will occupy the oval office, take his seat behind the presidential desk and start governing this country.

I anticipate many changes are coming our way. President-elect Obama doesn't face a full plate of issues and problems, more like several full platters of issues and problems currently facing our nation.

Is he up to the task? Only time will tell. Can he get this country moving again? Yes, I believe he can. Can he bring hope, faith and believing in the good old USA back into our thought process? No doubt in my mind he already has.

From what I have heard, Obama is a thinking man. He is an avid reader, not a give-me-the-short-version-or-I'll-wait-until-the-movie-comes-out kind of guy. I'll bet he was one of those kids who read everything including the fine print on the cereal box at breakfast time.

He has selected top-notch, educated and experienced people as his cabinet members, administrators and advisors. He vowed not to take his eye off the ball and believes in accountability.

He is a sponge of knowledge and continues to absorb information. He knows what programs have worked in the past and the programs that have failed miserably. In my opinion, he has the courage and intestinal fortitude to right the wrongs and follow through with the promises he made during his campaign.

He promised to be straight with the American people and asked for patience, understanding and sacrifice on our part to help him turn this country around. My understanding is that he has a plan in place and will reveal the details and begin implementing change right after taking the oath of office.

Let's greet 2009 with optimism.

We have lived so long in a pessimistic bubble we have a hard time believing anything positive will happen or that change is coming. I believe in my heart of hearts that America will prosper again, that we have better times to look forward to, that we can start to believe in our government and our fellow man again.

The answers and relief you seek will not occur overnight. You won't go to bed the night of the 20th and wake to a problem-free existence on the 21st.

The Bush administration did not create or perpetuate all the problems and crises we face. Each president and his administration leaves behind the good, the bad and the ugly resonating from their time in office.

Hell, I'm still waiting for the trickle-down economics promised by the Reagan administration.

Right out of the gate President-elect Obama has some extremely critical issues to deal with. The ever-increasing failure of our economy, joblessness and home foreclosures are at the top of the list. Add to that plethora of problems two ongoing wars, health and education programs and systems that are severely broken or mismanaged, the development of new energy sources, global warming, etc.

Makes my head spin just thinking about his to do list.

So welcome the New Year with open arms, then welcome Jan. 20 with an open mind and heart. Always feel blessed for what you have. Start to regain and rebuild your belief system one brick at a time. Look forward to new beginnings instead of griping about the past. Hold on to those you love and give a hand up to those in need when you can. Change is on the horizon, open the door and let it in.

I wish you and yours a Happy New Year and as always, God bless our troops and their families.