I have moments of great clarity, sometimes on road trips, after a long, hard sleep or the moment I step out of the shower following an extended camping trip.
I have never made a New Year”s resolution though.
I cannot grasp the concept of a premeditated epiphany that would prompt me to say “I will make this change on Jan.1,” instead of “I will make this change immediately.”
I typically limit my one annual goal to writing the correct year on bills or checks in less than three months.
Note to self: It is now 2009.
I thought about what I might change with myself for 2009 and had a revelation. In high school I had a wonderful boyfriend whose mother was the kindest person I had ever met. Her perspective of the world set her apart from anyone I had known in all my 16 years. She made me part of her family and consequently my own children know Jocele Lance Fletcher, as “Gramma Jody.”
This year I want to convey sentiment in the same manner as she does. In her eyes, people who take chances are “brave and adventurous,” not “stupid and irresponsible,” and a gray hair is simply known to her as “a hair that grew in without pigment.”
I will listen to her with a keen ear.
In 2009, I resolve to replicate her attitude daily.
Enough about me.
Here is a survey from folks who shared the following resolutions: to remain employed, qualify for food stamps, root for winning Bay Area baseball and football teams, have J.Lo accept one of my phone calls, set-up son”s arranged marriage, not lose a relative to cancer or suicide, quit smoking, quit drinking, stop biting fingernails and toenails, lose weight, find a better job, be in touch with loved ones, breathe, write a book, become a Toastmasters competent leader, stop eating junk food, travel and tell people I love them.
This was a trying year for some of my friends. My friend Susan said “the best thing about this bad year, is that it will end.”
The year 2008 was phenomenal for news. I attended a historical wedding. I am alive to see the first black President.
The American automobile industry teeters on the fence of change.
In Lake County we waged war on the quagga mussel, discussed the benefits and shortfalls of genetically engineered crops and learned the meaning of the Provocative Doctrine Act., Soper-Reese Community Theatre reopened, Community Radio KPFZ 88.1 FM came back on the air at full strength, new Poet Laureate Mary McMillan was introduced, Middletown High School”s Tyler Hunt scored 618 points during the 2007-08 basketball season, the second-best single-season total in Lake County and the best for Lake County boys. He finished his career at Middletown with 1,230 points, more than any other boy or girl at the school. The 1,230 points ranks him 12th overall on the career leaders list.
Also, Kelseyville High School golfers Nick Schaefer and Jonathan Bridges and Middletown High”s Doug Quinones advanced to the Tournament of Champions during the spring sports season, Middletown High School”s Lisa Copeland became the first Lake County golfer to reach the NorCal Championships in the fall, Lake County football teams Middletown (North Central League I North) and Clear Lake (NCL I South) won league titles. Clear Lake”s 8-7 upset of St. Vincent during league play cost St. Vincent a trip to the state championship game, Julie Kelley ran a marathon to support her friend Cindy Silveira-Turner who had a bone marrow transplant and in the process qualified for the Boston Marathon and The Lake County Wine Alliance raised $91,500 for community nonprofit organizations.
Memorable words and phrases this year include: Maverick, change, I can see Russia from my house, hypermiling (coined by Wayne Gerdes, the New Oxford American Dictionary new word of 2008), Hockey mom (One of New Oxford”s runner”s up), Yes we can, Eliot Spitzer AKA Empire Club VIP, bailout, economic fallout, recession, credit default swap and stimulus check.
Notable deaths: Bonny Jean Hanchett, Paul Newman, Ellie Nesler, George Carlin, Eartha Kitt, Deep Throat (AKA Mark Feldt), Heath Ledger, Pete Newell, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Roy Scheider, Buddy Miles, Jeff Healey, Arthur C. Clarke, Charlton Heston, Robert Mondavi, Sydney Pollack, Yves Saint Laurent, Bo Didley, Tim Russert, Cyd Charisse, Jesse Helms, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Isaac Hayes, Studs Terkel, Michael Crichton, Clive Barker, Odetta and Bernie Mac.
As the year 2008 has ended, I recalled a friend asking me once, “Do you know the day, month and year right now?” I said I did. “Live it up, this is no dress rehearsal, we will never have this same day again.”
Mandy Feder is assistant managing editor/night desk for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32. Opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lake County Record-Bee or its management.
