I wanna see the sunshine after the rain
...goes the song.
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I wanna see bluebirds flying over the mountains again.
Oh, where is the silver lining shining at the rainbow's end?
The pop-splendid Sunshine After The Rain returned as a chart hit in the mid-nineties, re-made to a dancebeat by English singer Berri.
But it has been around nearly 50 years, first recorded in 1968; and we’re sure the sentiment has been around a lot longer, since – forever.
Few people were sad to see the back of last year. Nearly 25 years on from Her Majesty’s annus horribilis, many around the world felt that 2016 was filled with disasters and misfortunes all of its own.
From typically ructious political machinations, internationally and at home, to morbid fascination with dead celebrities and fallen heroes, by Saturday night, December 31, most were ready for the year’s end.
Unfortunately for many, especially families, there were few options hosted locally for going out and having a good time, to shake off the shadows of 2016 and spook its demons with a flourish of fireworks.
Now, we could sit around and whinge about that, point fingers, lay blame, roll our eyes and faff about with ineffectual exasperation.
Or we could take stock, look at our collective assets, and plan what we, as a community, can do for ourselves, here and now in 2017.
From small street parties – totally permissable under municipal guidelines, you know – to a park-based, alcohol-free, family-and-friends get-together with the council’s support, anything is possible.
But we have to be the ones to make it happen: talk to neighbours, consult with community clubs, petition Goulburn Mulwaree Council. And it’s an attitude we need to apply more broadly in civic life, where not every day can be sausage sizzles and jumping castles (sadly).
In 2016, one of the most common complaints heard in the streets was the steady and stealthy advance of the Trolley Army, still at large today. As much as we might kid ourselves those malingering carts laze about through the manifestations of alien overlords, we know they don’t.
We can fix this, and a lot of things, but if we wait for sunshine, we’ll be waiting at the clouds’ convenience. Be the breeze that moves them along in favour of rainbows.