My New Year Anti-Resolution

New Year’s Eve in the Hacienda Senior Citizen Mobil Home Park is quiet, but that, I’m sure goes without saying. Each of us tucked in our beds long before midnight, double paned windows shut tight against the cold. Those who couldn’t sleep will be the first at the clubhouse to drink the free coffee and eat the day old bakery items donated by local merchants. They will complain loudly of the horrible night they passed and once again prove the old adage that misery loves company. I resolve not to be among them.

This is a time to be thankful. Thankful first and foremost that I no longer feel like I’m missing out if I do not join in, accept or extend invitations. I no longer have to; in any way, participate in a night of false gaiety with or without funny hats and noise makers. I no longer feel a need to watch the ball drop in Time Square, with or without Dick Clark. I seek neither midnight kiss nor gluttony in food or drink. I do admit to seeking a televised showing of “When Harry Met Sally”. It’s my favorite News Years movie and I might hum along to “What Are Doing New Years?” and “Old Laud Syne” but that’s only because I want to, not because I have to.

When I was young I was thrilled to be allowed to stay up until midnight, by middle age I felt duty-bound to stay up but now I’m blessed with the freedom of advanced age. I am free to not stay up, to not make resolutions, and to indulge in our only ritual, make a pot of soup with the Christmas Ham bone and take down the Christmas decorations and putting them away for another year. How sweet it is.

In years long gone by, I made and promptly broke resolutions. I now resolve to not resolve. Weight loss was always at the top of my list in one form or another, to join a gym, try a new diet, or join Weight Watchers yet again. Good news, I recently read that there are more people overweight in America than not, doesn’t that mean that overweight is the new average? I’m quite satisfied with being average; I can’t begin to tell you all how happy I am that you’ve all caught up with me. Welcome to my world!

If I was going to make a resolution involving food, I would resolve to try at least one new restaurant per month. If I was going to make a resolution involving personal appearance, I’d resolve to wear only long flowing brightly colored Muumuus and perhaps let my hair grow as long and as silver as it pleases. I would resolve to seek laughter and the company of those who laugh. I’d resolve to give more books away, to leave them in Starbucks, in doctor’s waiting rooms and on park benches.

Those are excellent resolution but I’m not inclined to set myself up to fail. Let’s call them, instead, “New Year’s Ideas” and I resolve to think about, thinking about them. No pressure, just my very best wishes for the year to come.