My first visit to California in the late 1980s was part of an ill-fated love connection. While I did find elements of “Endless Summer,” “California Girls” and “California Dreamin’” that I had come to expect from listening to the Beach Boys for years, I found San Francisco to be cold (it was fall), expensive, and largely uninviting.

New Year’s Eve 1981 was probably the coldest sporting event and evening of my life, spent in 50-yard-line seats in the very top row of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Few industries took more of a beating from this easing pandemic than tourism and travel. Even in Orlando, Florida, one of the tourism capitals in the world, the impacts were real and lasting, and even some of the titans of the industry felt the crowd losses.

As we wave farewell or at least say “See ya’ next time,” to this pandemic, and soon 2022, I note that both took from me my mother, as well as several irreplaceable and close friends. Those losses helped me appreciate even more those still in my world and clarified that I might let more of them know what they mean to me, while they are around to hear it.

Nearly 90 years after General James Edward Oglethorpe founded Savannah and established Georgia as the last of the 13 original colonies, the Georgia General Assembly would act on December 9, 1822, to create and charter the county of DeKalb, out of parts of Fayette, Gwinnett, and Henry Counties. So as of this month, DeKalb County, Georgia is celebrating its Bicentennial year and the anniversary of its founding.

As of this writing, Runoff Election Day is just ahead and Georgians have already set an advance-voting record of1,868,127 ballots cast ahead of Election Day, with a turnout total of 26%, more or less debunking ongoing claims of voter suppression.

As we finally emerge from this pandemic and folks are traveling and having holiday events again, a gaping recession apparently looms ahead. But for now, at least judging by the crowds on Black Friday, consumers are exercising some pent-up demand.

Mr. Speaker...I rise to recognize the fine gentleman from the 7th District of Georgia (R-Blue Ridge)...spanning Fannin, Gilmer and parts of Dawson County.

Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, will decide whether the 2023 Senate holds the 50-50 chamber status quo, or gives Democrats a 51-49 majority.

Georgia’s General Assembly will reconvene on the second Monday in January of 2023, and for the first time since January 2010, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston will not be presiding over the State House of Representatives.