The calendar year 2024 will be over in a matter of hours. If I choose to watch or listen to this evening’s media, I’ll get a variety of summaries, explanations and interpretations of the year now ending. Whenever I’ve paid attention to pundits recently, I’ve gotten at least some commentary about inflation—the rising cost of most, if not all, consumer goods.
Inflation hurts. So far, inflation has not hit me as hard as it has many others. Still, my prime earning years are long over. As time goes on, if inflation is not tamed, it will get harder for me to purchase extras. Eventually, even some things I consider basics may get priced beyond my capacity either to find less expensive substitutes or to switch some items I now buy ready-made to “make from scratch”.
So I’m thrilled that my neighbors have provided some holiday cheer at no cost to me. One of my joys this season has been walking around our neighborhood viewing the holiday decorations in nearby houses and yards. All that this viewing requires of me is a little exertion.
In this part of San Diego, it’s been a year of inflatables—replicas of holiday themed favorites such as Santas and elves, along with cartoon or animated film characters. Most of the figures rest in deflated sprawl during the day. As evening approaches, small electric motors kick in and the figures begin to rise, tethered and kept upright with ropes and/or anchors. It’s intriguing to see what neighbors have come up with. Because we’re in southern California’s “Disney country,” there are many Disney characters, along with Dr. Seuss Grinches. There’s been a rise in the number of “Bluey” likenesses, a recent Disney acquisition based on a children’s cartoon from Australia. Mixed in with the fantasy figures are figures of actual animals and plants. Often the displays are attached to real shrubs and trees that stay green in our mild climate in December.
In a few days, this year’s inflatables will be more permanently deflated and stored away in attics, closets, or sheds. If electricity follows our inflationary trend, next year’s crop of inflatables may be slightly smaller. Perhaps we’ll substitute more natural materials.
My wish for 2025 is that we will sooner or later succeed in reining in inflation. I think it will help if we remember that we are more stewards than owners of the natural world, that we are but one species among many. My hope is that more often than not, we’ll be able to avoid either an overinflated or an under inflated sense of our place in the grand scheme of things. Best wishes to all for a Happy New Year!
Jinny's Occasional Poems 