7] RESOLUTIONS This is the time of year when one usually looks over the past 12 months to determine the success or failure of many ambitions they had last year. Well, I can say that the first four months of 2009 are four months that I would not like to go through again. In many ways the last 8 months of 2009, similarly, were not really ones to be repeated willingly. But as with all things in life we are supposed to lear from our errors and hard- ships and press on as though everything was constantly im- proving. I think one thing we all discover is that that no matter how bad things were they can usually get worse and conversely no matter how good things were they can always get better. I think that one of the most satisfactory things to do while reminiscing over the past is to think of our relationships with others, our families, our friends and acquaintances. When I do this the first thing that presses on my mind is the particular community of Milford and then the County as a whole as a place to live. I’m looking back over the year, the many kindnesses and thoughtful actions of our neigh- bours in Milford and our friends and acquaintances throughout the County was truly amazing aside from the comfort it brings to we the recipients it makes you want to behave the same unselfish ways to others. As one grows older, a great pleasure is watching younger members of your family grow toward adulthood. I think of our two granddaughters who enjoyed the Christmas here for so many years who are growing into young ladies who enjoy having Grandma and Grandpa celebrate Christmas at their home with their mother and father. One of our great feelings of pleasure was having Anjelica and Danielle with their mother and father come to Christ- mas Eve with us to St. Philip’s since the girls were bom. This year we had similar feelings going with them to St. Mary’s in Richmond Hill near their home. Similarly, our three grandsons have spent time visiting us over the years. Our oldest grandson, Zack, is 21 and is in his 3" year at Queens in Engineering. Valerie and I of- ten take Zack to lunch in Kingston and he visits here on his own or as he did this year with son Allan, his uncle, prior to us all going to Richmond Hill. His visits are especially interesting since the company he works for between school terms sent him to Saudi Arabia last summer with side trips to Jordan and Sharm el Sheik in Egypt. Our nieces often visit during the summer and we join with my sister, their grandmother, who lives and works in the County, watching them develop into lovely young ladies. The oldest will be starting at U of T this fall. With all these positive things to think about and enjoy it makes what seems at the time to be personal difficulties fade into insignificance. We must also consider the difficulties in the County in coping with the variations of peoples’ thoughts as to how the County should progress into the future as hiccups on our way to continuing to be one of the finest places to live. The local papers this week are full of angry comments about our future. From spending so much in defending at- tacks that lead to the Ontario Municipal Board determining our future to jostling and jousting about how many counci- lors we should have represent us. It seems to me that the least difficult way for us to deal with these issues is to decide what we, as individuals think is best and operate within the existing structures to make our feelings known to the decision makers. We may not get our own way but at least we will have ex- ercised our rights as citizens to be heard. Looks like an in- teresting year coming up. Valerie and I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. - John A. Jackson - John A Jackson 104 Picton \ S Picton, ON ROK 613.476.2700 76.0096 Representative thecountyhome.com