2019 hope to do's

“New Year Hope to Do’s”

           

             I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m through with making New Year’s resolutions. I’ve broken too many, too early in the year, thus making it apparent that I have weak resolve.

            However, I am going to start something that is easy peezy and carries absolutely no “guilt” when you fail. It’s brilliant!  I am making a list of things I hope to do this year. “Hope to Do’s for 2019.” -- Not to be confused with “Howdy Do’s” for 2019. That’d be stupid. 

            Of course, since I’m always thinking of others, I decided to collect the “Hope to Do’s” from members of the Hayter Clan. Last night I emailed family members and told ‘em to let me know what they hoped would happen this year. Nothing big, like, Peace in the Middle East or Global Cooling. 

Larry (Big Brother):  "Why aren't there any more Westerns on TV?"  When we were younger there might be three or four on some nights. They started out being about gunfights, good guys and bad guys - and then they started doing human interest stuff.

  Bonanza got terrible.  I've been watching some old Gunsmokes; they were really good and then as the years went by they must have run out of good writers. Now you seldom see a Western at the movies.  I used to think I wanted to be a cowboy - but I realized at that time they hadn't invented toilet paper yet.  I couldn't live that way.  end

            You tie all of that together and Larry is hoping for more TV Westerns along the line of the old 30 minute black and white Gunsmoke. I mean, Gunsmokes. I fear my brother is hoping against hope. I’m confident that Westerns will die off right after the Baby Boomers do.

            Rhonda Still (Niece):  I’d like to seek out the Aurora Borealis with my good ole Uncle Mark and Aunt Kay, or pretty much have a repeat of summer 2017; go to the beach and watch the waves while I dig my toes into the sand! Stare into the faces of loved ones and not their faces on my cell tiny cell phone screen. I want us to be together to enjoy the moments. – Okay, I’m getting too deep. And, it’s not humorous. I’ll give it some more thought!  end

            Not necessary, Rhonda. That was beautiful. And, that’s a “Hope to Do” of mine. Kay and I hope to go back to Washington State this year and have fun with a part of the family that hasn’t been with me long enough to wish I’d leave. A better time and more gracious hosts I’m not likely to ever find.

            Dennis (Older Brother): I want to have a Happy New Year. Literally. I mean, I want to be happier than I’ve been. Too much stuff going on. I’ve been busy as a cat in a house full of rocking chairs. end

            So true. If Dennis ever finds a day when he doesn’t have something to do, his wife, Dardon Ann, will either find or create something to keep him busy. 

            Nalin (Nephew – Dennis and Dardon’s boy): I want to win the lotto, and not like a couple of bucks. I mean the big one! Hundreds of millions. And I would like to buy a huge piece of property and be able to build houses for any of my family that would like to live there with me. We could have our own little “Hayter City”.

I would like to invent something that keeps socks together with their proper partner no matter how many times you wash them. I want to finish a bachelors degree, and coach high school baseball. Oh, and I wish there was no traffic ever! This is a big one! I don’t know how to carry out this dream but, imagine the huge boost in quality of life for everyone involved.

Glad to help, Uncle Mark. I will just pick up my royalties next time I see you. I am sure you will win some type of award for the ideas I gave you. end

            A great kid, Nalin. I’d be more than glad to live in Hayter City in a house that Nalin bought for me. That’s the kind of uncle I am. Royalties? Hope all you want.

            Jill (Kid sister): I’ve been taking drum lessons for a year. I’m a slow learner, mostly because I don’t practice enough. For 2019, I want to practice a lot more, and have a blast while doing it. I’m going to pick fun songs to play. I’m excited! end

Jill has one drum lesson for 30 minutes each week, yet she can read music well enough to know not only when to hit the cymbal, but which one to hit. And, she’s a Hayter!

Al (Kid brother):  In 2019, I have decided to talk less. I have finally learned that I have nothing of importance to say and I’m ok with that. And I wish for world peace, to be able to play an instrument, have more hair on my head (the very top) and less hair everywhere else. I also hope to read more, and get in better shape. I could tell you more, but my “less talking” starts now. end

            I told Al that if I waited until I had something important to relate, I would seldom talk and never write. Do I hear some “Amens!” out there? – I do hope you come up with your own “Hope to Do’s” for 2019. Please share them with me… expecting no royalties, of course.

end

You can contact Mark at  hayter.mark@gmail.com. “The Summer of 1976” is still available on ebook at Amazon Books.