2002

Laurie Cohn Rosenthal
Mirror contributing writer

   Instead of a year in review, which for so many is with good reason frozen in time at 9-11, I’d rather look ahead to what 2002 will bring. Some may seem obvious, some farfetched, but you never, ever know.
   Afghanistan will become a major tourist destination
   Osama Bin Laden dart boards
   Afghan-influenced fashions
   Baby boom
   War
   Peace
   Eternal gridlock on PCH
   Continued arrogance and BAD decisions from Santa Monica’s City Hall
   Americans will tire of Dubya
   George Clooney will remain a big, big movie star
   Year of the Horse
   Pleas for racial, religious, and ethnic tolerance
   Documentaries on Islam
   Documentaries on Afghanistan
   Documentaries on Bin Laden
   Red, White & Blue everything
   The Dow-Jones will go up
   The Dow-Jones will go down
   Brad and Jennifer will announce they’re preggers. Consequently, Ross and Rachel will marry
   The Santa Monica Pier will continue to lose money
   90% of SUVs will never go off-road
   Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
   The City of Santa Monica will destroy some trees somewhere
   Rick Fox will remain the best-looking player in the NBA
   Chick Hearn will be back announcing Laker games
   The national anthem will be changed to the neighborly “This Land Is Your Land.” (I can dream can’t I?)
   Sean Hayes (Jack on “Will & Grace”), Kelsey Grammer, and David Hyde Pierce will remain the funniest men on television
   The City of Santa Monica will increase the budget for non-essential projects, but will offer very little money to the school system
   Penelope Cruz will not become Penelope Cruz-Cruise
   Santa will know if you’ve been bad or good (so be good for goodness sakes)
   Stupid terrorists will be caught
   Several Brat Pack members will turn 40 – Ally  Sheedy, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore and Emilio Estevez
   The 80s will be hip (big hair and shoulder pads, oh my)
   People will die of hunger all around the world
   People will go hungry in Santa Monica
   The world will grow smaller as countries and people continue to band together against terrorism
   Santa Monica and its celebrity residents will constantly be mentioned in the national and international media
   The Queen Mum will be in the hospital (I did say some things were obvious)
   Our ocean will continue to look pristine on a clear day, yet be highly toxic after a rain
   Ladies and Gentlemen, once again, the world champion Los Angeles Lakers
   Hybrid cars will gain in popularity
   The Third Street Promenade will become home to yet another chain store
   Sunday afternoon at Palisades Park will stay a delightful tradition
   My little boy will turn one
   Santa Monica will remain one of the most glorious locations on earth
   Happy 2002 to you and your loved ones