It’s hard not to get mentally and emotionally discombobulated this time of year, as the New Year’s celebration is basically two polar opposite events happening at the same time. While one chapter of the story is ending, the next one is just getting started.

Heading into Jan. 1, it’s easy to get wrapped up in nostalgia for the previous 12 months. Here at The Times, that takes the form of all of these “Year in review” stories you’ll find peppered throughout the pages over the course of the next two weeks.

We like to look at how far we’ve come as a community over the past year and what big events helped define the year. Not all of the news was good news, but it all helped shape 2017 and make us the Fountain Hills that we are today.

Then New Year’s Day arrives and the shift from reminiscence to expectation is so quick it can give you whiplash. The conversation shifts from “what we are” to “what can we be,” and suddenly the possibilities are endless, excitement mounts and everyone is rejuvenated and ready to roll into another 12 months of community events, construction projects, club activities, sports, schools, church gatherings, etc.

We hope you’ll stick with us as we head into 2018 and the next set of adventures. There’s no telling what we’ll encounter along the way, but we’re looking forward to finding out.