Know what? '08 was pretty darn sunny

The fact is that Romney stepped out of the contest well before it was over, and he still won 11 states and took second place in total votes to John McCain in the Republican race for president, light years better than Joseph Smith and Orrin Hatch.

Who's to say what kind of acceptance and openness will be in place for 2012?

For that matter, who's to say what the price of gas will be in four years — or in four weeks?

As much as anything, 2008 will be memorialized as the year gas prices rode a roller coaster.

In July, the average price-per-gallon in Utah was $4.22.

I remember pedaling my bicycle through Price that month, praising whoever invented the derailleur.

People who owned hybrids were worshipped.

Six months later, you can buy three gallons for the former price of one.

Who knows why? Who knows how long it will last?

But as tough as things might be in some ways as the year 2008 draws to a close, they're in good shape at the pump, and there's a new face coming to the White House.

Overall, I'd say it was a very good 365 days in the old melting pot.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.