NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

1.      I RESOLVE TO NOT PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO TRUMP. ADMITTEDLY, I’M WORRIED ABOUT KEEPING THIS ONE. TRUMP IS LIKE A BAD CASE OF HEMORRHOIDS. PRETTY HARD TO IGNORE. A CONSTANT PAIN IN THE ASS.

2.      I’M GOING TO START GIVING MORE MONEY TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET. CHARITIES ALL KEEP A PERCENTAGE FOR OVERHEAD, AND IN SOME CASES, EXORBITANT SALARIES. PEOPLE SAY, “WELL, WHAT IF THEY GO BUY ALCOHOL?” MY ANSWER HAS BEEN “SO WHAT, IF THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO WITHDRAWAL?” GIVING, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD NOT INVOLVE JUDGING OR ASKING FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN. LIKE HAVING TO SAY A CHRISTIAN PRAYER WHEN YOU ARE NOT CHRISTIAN, OR ATTENDING A WORSHIP SERVICE. OR WORRYING WHAT THE PERSON WILL DO WITH THE MONEY. THAT IS NOT GIVING. THAT IS BUYING.

3.      I’M GOING TO KEEP VOLUNTEERING AT THE FOOD BANK. I MAY PICK UP A THIRD DAY SOMEWHERE I CAN GET DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE RECIPIENTS. WE SUPPLY AGENCIES WHO GIVE AWAY THE FOOD. WE DON’T HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THOSE IN NEED. I MISS THAT.

4.      I COULD SAY I’M GOING TO TRY TO BE MORE PATIENT WITH PEOPLE, BUT THAT NEVER WORKS. THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS TO BE IMPATIENT ABOUT.

5.      I’D LIKE TO BE MORE UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHT-WING REPUBLICANS. NO, FORGET I EVEN MENTIONED THIS.

6.      I’M GOING TO CUBA THIS YEAR. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT. I E-MAILED RAUL CASTRO AND ASKED FOR A MEETING. SO FAR, NO ANSWER. I NEED SOME TIPS ON STARTING A REVOLUTION.

7.      AS USUAL, I AM HOPING TO BECOME A BETTER HUMAN BEING. THIS IS A CONSTANT ENDEAVOR. A LOT OF MOVING FORWARD ONE STEP, FALLING BACK TWO. STILL, I’M HOPING IT IS WORTH THE STRUGGLE. I’M TRYING NOT TO GIVE ST. PETER TOO MANY WEAPONS.

8.      I’M GONG TO WRITE A LITTLE MORE. I’M COMMITTING TO TWO EDITORIALS PER MONTH FOR THE LOCAL PAPER;  GETTING SOMETHING BLOGGED AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY; SENDING IN TWO ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION;  AND ONE FACEBOOK ENTRY EVERY OTHER DAY. IF THAT DOESN’T SATISFY MY WRITING NEEDS, I’LL SEND A LOVE LETTER TO MERYL STREEP ONCE PER MONTH.