Resolving to make progress in 2009
What a year it was, 2008. Our country elected the first
African-American president (that was good); gas prices went crazy
high (that was bad) then dropped crazy low (good); the economy was
horrible (bad) and people lost their homes to foreclosure (bad) but
the glut of homes on the market may allow some people to actually
buy a home (good).
Resolving to make progress in 2009
What a year it was, 2008. Our country elected the first African-American president (that was good); gas prices went crazy high (that was bad) then dropped crazy low (good); the economy was horrible (bad) and people lost their homes to foreclosure (bad) but the glut of homes on the market may allow some people to actually buy a home (good).
That year is over now, for better or for worse. We ceremoniously wash ourselves of the past each New Year’s Eve by toasting the successes and mourning the losses of the past year. We move on with an attitude of hope and positivity as we look at a new calendar filled with blank pages waiting to be filled with dentist appointments and sports practices and school commitment and work meetings and … ugh … only 363 days until the positivity of next New Year’s Eve.
“This is the year that I’ll eat better,” we tell ourselves in January, “just as soon as I finish the three pies that are still in my refrigerator and the plate of Christmas cookies on the counter.”
Then, as soon as that food is gone, “This will be the year that I start working out again. I can’t start just yet, though, because I have a touch of a cold and I wouldn’t want to expose other people to it and I don’t have any workout clothes.”
This is the year that I will turn 40, and as far as I can tell I am healthy with a full head of hair that has not yet gone gray.
Unfortunately, turning 40 means being reminded by the doctor that it’s time for special “male health” exams that involve latex gloves and coughing. But that’s about a month-and-a-half from now so I’m going to enjoy my non-scary exam 30s as long as they’re here.
This is the year that my oldest son will graduate from eighth grade and move on to high school, making his then-40-year-old parents feel really proud and really old.
This is the last year that my youngest son will play in the major division of Little League. It seemed like yesterday that he was a shy 5-year-old playing T-ball at Dunne Park and now he’s a confident 12-year-old who knows exactly how many home runs he needs to hit this year to surpass his older brother’s career total.
This is the year that I will replace the broken ceiling fan in the family room and re-paint the drawer in the kitchen. It’s always good to leave a few unfinished projects because we all need goals. Yeah, that’s what I tell my wife. If everything was done in a timely manner what would we have to work toward?
This is the year that I will get my truck washed more than once. I honestly believe that I washed my 2001 Ford pickup once in 2008 – sometime in the early summer, I believe. When I was a teenager cruising San Benito Street in my Dodge Ram, I would wipe it down and Armor All the tires every day. Now, I’m lucky if I dump the gum wrappers from the cup holder once a month.
This is the year that I’ll start working on my book. I don’t know what it’s about yet, but how cool would it be able to answer “Hey, Adam, what’s new with you?” with “Oh, not much, I’m just writing my book.”
In the meantime, I’ve got to finish the pumpkin pie in the fridge so I can go sign up for the gym and call the doctor to arrange a check-up so I’ll be healthy enough to replace the broken ceiling fan which will keep me cool while I’m writing my book … about procrastination.
