Resolution for 2010

Last year’s resolutions are so…last year! Learn Spanish; read more; learn to cook; water Nutmeg. Oh, you want specifics? I learned enough Spanish to order tamales at Masa y Mas but not enough to understand the Spanish-language radio station; I read the trilogy by Rudolfo Anaya and discovered a NM mystery writer: Michael McGarrity plus found several local authors – whoa, this is one resolution I really kept—but then of course we’re talking books, here; and I cook everything with chile now— well, almost everything. My new motto? Red or Green. Original, don’cha think ;^? Despite the fact my real resolution was to learn to cook at altitude, having nothing to do with color. And you can put a water bowl in front of a dog, but you can’t make her lap.

This year, I’m keeping it simple. My single resolution for 2010: Appreciate!

The genesis of this resolution is less simple. A close friend of Marian and Brandon’s, our former neighbors in MD, sent them an email, which they shared with me. I asked their permission, because I couldn’t ask his as readily, to share parts of his email with you. I saw myself reflected, but it was a fun-house-crazy-mirror reflection that feels not particularly flattering. So I’m paying attention. And making my resolution. You’ll see what I mean…

“Well I’m back in the Far East and I wanted to share a little experience… Feel
free to share with others if they are having a bad day. Sometimes a note
like this will help them appreciate…
“On my way back to Afghanistan…After my third airplane ride, I was able to get some sleep in a real bed. The single size bed, sharing a tent with 10 other troops, and walking 50 yards to the bathroom gives me no grounds to complain because I was resting on the “nice side”…
“…I had the joyous experience of showering in ice cold water…[then]waited in the travel lounge for 15 hours to catch a plane. The reason is that other aircraft were redirected for combat missions. Instead of complaining the entire 15 hours, I wrote emails to my sweetheart, sat next to a guy … and met a ton of other great…people.
“Here is the part when you say, yep…my day was pretty good compared to this guy in the email. I finally got on a plane at 3 am and we flew 4 hours to our next stop in the eastern part of Afghanistan. I put on my gear that weighed over 40 lbs, grabbed my suitcase that weighed 35 lbs, and a 25 lbs backpack on the other shoulder.
Then we had one of those “this is it…oh sh#t moments”. We had to run
off the plane for the next 150 yards over gravel and cement roads with all of
our gear. Why run? Because ½ mile away the bad guys decided to
welcome us back with AK-47 gunfire.
“So…if you hear about one of your coworkers, friends, or children complaining about having a bad day, then tell them to fly over and hang out with us for awhile.”

Doesn’t mean I won’t have a bad day this year. Heck, I’ve already had a couple of slightly annoying ones and it’s only, what, the 12th? Of January? I’m resolved, though, that I’m going to remember and to appreciate. I have so much about which to be appreciative. Won’t bore you with those details, but just know that you’re included.

Thanks, Joe. I owe you one! Sonnie