RESOLUTIONS UN-RESOLVED

by Dean Sprague

The holidays will soon be upon us and before we know it, it’s time to bring in another new year. Of course, a new year tends to catalyze new beginnings. It’s a time of resolutions; some kept but, with the best of intentions, most are not. Most of us resolve to cease a bad habit or vow to start a good one. Some of us want to learn a new language and may even get as far as purchasing a Rosetta Stone course (or something like it) but no mater what we do we generally forget to acquire a “round tuit”. You know that wonderful wooden tuit coin, which just happens to be round. I speak from experience when I say that getting a round tuit is so difficult its become one of the most difficult coins to find. Sometimes it requires a reward system…”like when I learn Italian I will go to Tuscany but not until”.

I have always wanted to go to England and Scotland and visit my relatives, ancestors (grave sites) and family castles. The problem is my incentive plan about learning a new language isn’t working well. They may talk funny but I think its still English, well sort of. I was born in Maine and can resurrect my “down-easter” dialect (if that’s English) fairly easily but my Father who was also born and raised in Maine said it only confuses them. He was in an English pub and tried to order supper. The waitress kept looking at him very strangely. Finally she asked, “gov what part of England are you from?” He just looked at her and finally said, “well the new part you know New England”. This created a laugh and an offer to play darts for a pint. I think he lost and bought some beer. Maybe Rosetta Stone makes an English or Scottish dialect that might work. It’s just a thought.

I digress; the real secret to completing resolutions is to never make one unless it’s important enough to go on your “bucket list”. This includes activities and acquisitions. If it’s that special British sports car you always wanted it might require sacrifice. You may have to liquidate an existing treasure to get it. This is where I am right now. I have to ask myself, “How badly do I really want it”? I am thinking about buying a late model Aston Martin Vantage. This is one of my bucket list cars or a new F Type Jaguar (a would be recent emotional purchase) but my wife’s favorite. Either one of these will require selling my Corvette Grand Sport and trading our Jaguar XF. I think she might be willing to do both but probably not without resistance if I chose the Aston Martin. Of course, doing nothing (no resolutions) is also an option. So there you have it. Do I walk down the path of maturity, do the proper thing and just stay where I am or do I let my impulses rule once again? Which road leads to regrets? Better yet what would you choose?

When decisions and/or mistakes are made I will be sure to share them. May you all have a wonderful new year.