Thanks for a Great Year!

Thanks for a Great Year!
By Sheryl McAlister, a writer based in South Carolina

Thanks for your support of Old Broad & New Trix this past year. The site had nearly 37,000 visitors in 2015, up from 1,800 in its first year. Views were up from 3,350 to nearly 45,000 in 2015 thanks to you, our new followers and the magic of social media.

The most popular pieces this year were Come Hell or High Water, which offered a bird’s-eye view of the devastation caused by the violent flooding in the South. Its companion piece, The Aftermath, offered a stark reminder of just how difficult it was to get back to life as we knew it. Comments hit an all-time high as the stories struck a chord with so many who bore witness.

Another extremely popular post this year was Start Spreading the News, which was one woman’s story of her battle with the debilitating disease Multiple Sclerosis. The piece generated many comments from folks who had long suffered with the disease but had found it difficult to put into words exactly how it impacted their lives.

Old Broad & New Trix has a new look for 2016. Hopefully, the new look will make the site a little easier to navigate if you’re looking for older posts, and make it easier to share pieces if you choose to do so. I’m still working out the kinks, but any comments – constructive or otherwise – would be appreciated.

For those sports followers, the Clemson Tigers are taking their undefeated record into Thursday’s Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. The game is at 4 pm. Winner moves into the National Championship Game January 11.

For Carolina Panthers fans, the Panthers take a 14-1 record into Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. They’ll host at least 1 NFC Playoff Game in their quest to get to a second Super Bowl. I was at the first one against the New England Patriots. What a treat that was, even though they lost. (And, of course, we got to see Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake at halftime.)

For the movie buffs, I’ve seen 3 powerful movies lately – Spotlight, The Big Short and Room. I’m currently reading She’s Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan. And Oliver Sacks’ Gratitude is a beautiful little book about finishing well. In queue are Bob Woodward’s The Last of the President’s Men and Penny Marshall’s My Mother was Nuts. (Mine isn’t, but I can’t resist “Laverne.”)

If you’re looking for a tax deduction to close out this year, consider the National MS Society; the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Children’s Defense Fund.

Thanks again for your support. Hoping you and yours have an outrageously happy new year.
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Copyright 2015 ©Sheryl McAlister