From the Editor

If you tuned into a news station or scrolled through social media over the past 12 months, odds are it didn’t brighten your day. Looking at the year in review, top headlines proclaimed political scandals, more mass shootings, horrific wildfires and just about anything to do with President Donald Trump.

I wrote earlier this year about selecting “joy” as my one word for the year, based on the concept from the book My One Word. I’ll follow the example Editor Peggy Coffeen set in 2017 and provide an update on how it’s going. In short, not great.

Three years ago, I was on the cusp of buying a pair of Google Glass glasses when the program was discontinued. Using voice or tap commands, these glasses could display a message, take a picture and even record video right in front of your eye.

I had the opportunity to attend the Penn State versus Ohio State football game on Sept. 29. Unlike my college days, attending a game now requires much more planning. Back in May, I organized a block of tickets for a college alumni group.

This year, I set a goal to read something new each day for 15 minutes. My favorite genre is business and self-improvement, so I’ve been reading book titles like The Culture Code and When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.

Like many of your families, summer at the Coffeen household is filled with a few traditions, most of which include cow shows and county fairs. But every July, we all get cleaned up for one special event that doesn’t require white pants.