Time Marches On

Does it seem like time is speeding up, or is life just getting more hectic? Let us take a look back in time and just pick out a few major events that have shaped this modern-day America from the 17th Century to the 21st Century. 17th Century: Jamestown becomes the first permanent English colony; the French explorer LaSalle explores the Mississippi and declares Louisiana for France as a territory; colonial expansion creates major clashes with the Native Americans. 18th Century: the French and Indian War results in England’s expansion of the colonies; the American Revolution – America’s fight for freedom from British rule; George Washington becomes the first American President. 19th Century: Louisiana Purchase and the exploration of this land by Lewis and Clark; Manifest Destiny helped out by the California Gold Rush; the American Civil War; the freeing of the slaves; America becomes a major industrial power. 20th Century: the war to end all wars, World War I, and the world at war, World War II; the atomic bomb; the Iron Curtain of Communism and the start of the Cold War; the space race; the fall of Communism; the creation of the World Wide Web. 21st Century (just the first decade): Y2K computer scare; the 9/11 attacks; the war against terrorism; Barrack Obama becomes America’s first African-American President. With the advent of the modern computer age, our lives and the events of the world have become more connected and much more hectic. But, no matter what is in store for us this year, please remember to count each day as a blessing and know that whatever dilemma we face – as with all things – this too, shall pass.