Back in 1994 when we left Lawn Guyland (that’s in Gnu Yawk), en route to Florida, all we heard on radio and television — not to mention our daily and weekly newspapers — was what terrible shape the Island was in. The economy continued to be in a slump, who was just arrested for child abuse, another murder, unemployment figures still up, health care cost on the rise, tax revolts, greedy politicians, rape, and a variety of other gloom and doom self fulfilling prophesies.

Guess what? The more things change, the more they stay the same. As we drove off the Island and out of New York, we started listening to New Jersey radio stations — rape, murder, child abuse, and a sagging economy were the order of the day. Through Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, only the names changed — the scenario was the same.

Surely it would be different once we reached our Pompano Beach destination.

Unfortunately, we were faced with the following headlines in one of Broward County’s major dailies — "Health Care in Crisis: No Cure In Sight" — "Two airing Dirty Laundry in Court Case" — "State to Raid Salaries - High Paid Staffers Face Cuts" — "Jobless Rate Hits 8.7%" — "Drug Suspect Kills 3" — "Man Charged in Slaying of two was Church Volunteer" — and a myriad of other rapes, murders, and child abuse allegations.

Guess what folks? It is now 1997 and things haven’t changed. Headlines in the local Smithtown News, my old hometown, reads as follows: "Teens Roughed Up" -- "Pyramid Company Under Investigation" -- "Commack Tax Hike at 3.97%" -- "School Board Approves Budget With 1.1% Hike" -- "Hospital Responds to Rape Case Charges" -- "Smithtown Based Firm Under Investigation" -- "Police Find Cocaine in Bar" -- and "Litigation Threatens Finances." Sound familiar?

It’s a sad commentary on the life and time we live in. I certainly don’t profess to have any answers. All I know is wherever you go, at least here on the east coast, don’t expect things to change. Only the names change.

I sometime wonder if there really is a light at the end of the tunnel? Or is it another train chug-chugging along at full throttle and heading our way with more gloom and doom.