New Year’s Resolution

As a child, I can remember that moment when I realized that the academic year did not line up with the calendar year.

I looked at my Gramma perplexed and said, “What do you mean? It’s a new year, but I don’t start a new grade?”

This did not seem logical to me.

She patiently tried to explain it again. And I accepted that the year would change, and I would stay in the same grade.

I have never really fancied resolutions at the turn of the calendar year. It didn’t really make any sense to me. But, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always made a list for the beginning of the school year.

As a student they were…

Keep my desk neat.

Not lose so many pencils.

Make the honor roll.

Be organized.

Be early.

Have my stuff by the door the night before.

Pack a lunch the night before.

Pick out my outfits for the week – make sure they’re washed and ironed.

Wait a second. I think these were all my Gramma’s ideas. She hated the idea of scurrying in the morning. But she loved to see me succeed – and if keeping my desk neat got me there, we were going to work on it! (“Did you make sure your desk was neat before you left school today?”)

As a teacher, I still try to do most of these things. My Gramma’s ideas to make her life easier have severely rubbed off on me.  Just ask Kate and Rob, they don’t care for my stuff by the door.

I loathe packing a lunch- so I (usually) do it the night before.

I usually have a good idea about what I want to wear. And I love it when the ironing fairy shows up (that used to be Gramma, now it’s Rob).

My desk stays neater.

I’m usually early.

I still lose pens.

My documents folder is insanely organized.

And as long as I’m a student, I will always strive for the A(+).

But I’m adding one more to the list this year…keeping up the blog. Yep. I’m making it a resolution. I’ve severely failed blogging in the past. But now, it’s a resolution and it will be resolved.

At least once a week. Maybe more, but at least once. It will be about a hodgepodge of things. Whatever strikes my fancy…school, stories, travels, food, adventures. I know. I know. I’m breaking all of the blogging rules. But these writing muscles need to be stretched again. And I gotta start somewhere.

So, here goes nothin’.