Columns

This column first appeared two years ago, on Jan. 7, 2011, when Nuestra Historia was introduced with the hope of bringing to life the history of our area. We said we would focus on the social, cultural and political milestones — sometimes tumultuous — which have made Las Vegas and San Miguel County a very special and singular place.

Of course this isn’t very creative — pundits far and wide love to spell out our future with the onset of each new year — but indulge me anyway, as I offer up some predictions of my own:

Weather will continue to be a big story in 2013 — internationally, nationally and locally. Across the nation, there will be lots of extreme weather events: killer tornadoes in the South, superstorms along the eastern coastlines and oppressive heat and drought all over. An angry god won’t be the cause of it all; the onset of climate change will.

For 20 years Russ Kistler ran his Optic with bravado and bluster, and by the time he sold the newspaper in about 1898, the Optic was a mainstay in Las Vegas. Yet there is no known photograph or likeness of Kistler, and little is known of his personal life, or his pursuits after he sold the Optic — but that may soon change.

In terms of pure economics, our biggest national holiday is, of course, Christmas. I read somewhere that Halloween comes in as a strong second, but I’d be surprised if it’s anywhere close to the money we Americans spend for the yuletide.

Perhaps that makes me a little off the mark, because I don’t recall much about the Christmas presents I’ve acquired over the years.

Instead, I remember experiences.