Dec. 27, 1996

Each year journalists scramble to compose lists of New Year's Resolutions meant to inspire, entertain, and educate the masses. Not willing to be left in the wake, I offer my personal resolutions for 1997. Whether I am capable of keeping even one of them remains to be seen (I do not intend to be held accountable for any of them), but since I doubt that anyone will remember these much less care about them after a week, I present them with impunity.

1. I resolve to pay all bills on time. (All right, this one is stupid. I will NEVER be able to keep this resolve, and to set myself up for immediate failure seems rather ludicrous.)

2. I resolve to prepare at least 4 nutritious, "In the Zone" dinners from scratch each week. (This is slightly safer, since I at least have the physical capability to accomplish this feat. Desire may be the hindrance.)

3. I resolve to read at least four classics in 1997. (I think I'm back on thin ice here. Each time I have assigned the task of reading one of the great classics to my English students I am reminded of how terrifically boring they are due to archaic language and plot lines. But it's such a noble task.)

4. I resolve to grade all papers in a timely fashion. (Somehow I HAVE to manage to keep this one. It may, however, involve the same character flaw that the non-bill paying does.)

5. I resolve to write a novel. (This one might sound the most difficult, but it is in fact my dream. Perhaps this will be the year.)

   
   There. That feels much better. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go back and finish addressing my Christmas cards so I can get them in the mail before the 31st.
   

   

   
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