Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
I’ve been thinking all week about my New Year’s Resolutions. I always make them, and once in a while I keep them, for at least ten minutes, maybe twenty, depending on the resolution. This year I couldn’t think of a thing I wanted to do to improve my nearly perfect mind, body, and soul, so I went to Good Housekeeping, that’s the magazine my mother gave me as a wedding present, some 50+ years ago. Little did she know…
When I moved to Montana, I had three requirements from Cowboy: a garage. A writing space. And someone to help me with keeping things tidy. He did a grand job providing all three. But today I realized I was deficient and added one more: Football is limited to four hours, even on New Year’s Eve.
The Good Housekeeping headline seemed like one I could buy into, that is 65 Achievable Resolutions, so I looked it over, thinking I could get into this, but 65 is a lot, so I picked out ten Achievable Resolutions
1. Make dinner easier. Well, I nixed that one because it can’t get easier. Cowboy says, “What’s for dinner?” I say, “Whatever you fix.” He says, “Let’s go out.” See what I mean?
2. Exercise your brain. What in the world? It’s old and tired and hurts.
3. Become a plant owner. I tried that once, but I ate them. You know, homegrown tomatoes and peppers. Idaho potatoes. Nothing better. I’ll work on it as soon is warms up.
4. Plan a vacation. Done. I’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned!
5. Consider therapy. Are you kidding? Nothing personal here, but nearly every counselor I knew was in counseling. Therapy can be over-therapied.
6. Lift weights. Really? Why would I carry extra things around that might injure my feet, knees, shoulders. I did that when I was forty, and it didn’t help things. So, nix on you, Buster.
7. Learn or hone a new skill. The accompanying picture for this little resolution was a person singing. Just so you know: I have a song in my heart and I ain’t letting that sucker out. You should thank your lucky stars.
8. Decorate with family history. This one confuses me, because hanging a picture of Field Marshal Von Emeline scowling at me is not uplifting.
9. Keep clutter out of the kitchen. Cowboy denies that he has OCD tendencies, but this one well enforced. We have a sign: No. Clutter. In. Kitchen. And. Don’t. Forget. It.
10. Now number ten is doable. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate! What a great idea! The Field Marshal would be proud.
By the way: Good Housekeeping missed the last Achievable Resolution: Finish off the bottle of wine that I started upon my thought to write about resolutions.
Happy New Year! May 2025 be the best year ever!
