Well, here it is 2013!  I would have never guessed when I turned 21 that I would still be around to see it come around.  But, look at me, here I am!

When my high school class (Monahans High School) of 1965 began planning it’s 50^th class reunion, I thought I would probably not be there to participate with them.  But something funny happened at the last class reunion we attended in San Angelo a couple of years ago.  As we were getting ready to say our goodbyes to everyone, I happened to walk over to where Beverly Rowin Hartman was taking down the Memorial of Classmates who had already gone on.  I made the comment that there sure were a lot of our class gone.  Beverly looked at me and said, “No one else can go before our next reunion because we don’t have any more picture frames to place their photo in.”  I laughed and said, “OK, that seems like reason enough to stick around”.  I had no idea what the future held for me at that time but more than once over the next couple of years and during our battle with cancer I would think about standing there and hearing those words, “No one else can go because we don’t have any more frames.”  It always brings a smile to my face and lightens my spirits.  So if everything holds out, I plan to be at the 50^th MHS Reunion and NOT in a picture!

I have been checking quite a few things off of the “bucket list” this past year so I have had to be a little more realistic in my resolutions for this year.  As some of you may recall, one of my resolutions for last year was to use only one razor blade for the entire year.  Well, I did it!  Of course I started my chemotherapy in February and by March my face was as smooth as a baby’s behind.  It stayed that way throughout the treatment.  In July, it began to grow again and I let it grow through the end of the year.  Sooo… I’m just saying…. That’s one resolution I kept but not exactly as I planned to.

The other resolution was to have no agenda for the year 2012.  I want to say I kept that one as well but I did have a “sort of” agenda of driving Charlotte all over the western part of the U.S.  Other than that, I pretty well laid back and did what I pleased.  Man, why did I wait so long to retire?  This is awesome!!!

The last resolution I made was easier to keep.  That was the one where I took myself off of the list of candidates for the Ten Best Dressed Men in Dallas.  Yeah, there were the initial calls from the media wanting to know why and wanting a follow-up interview.  But once I put my foot down, they eventually backed off.  So I spent the year dressed in a lot of Tommy Bahama shirts and sandals and shorts.  Not a bad way to go!  I’m considering carrying that same style over into 2013!!

Now then….Lets get down to 2013 Resolutions!!!

As I said, this year I’m going to be a little more practical.  I want to start in the kitchen with my first 2013 Resolution.  It is…….(drum roll)……… I want to learn how to make gravy like my Mama.  I mean I want to learn how to make it right every time!

Mama would fry chicken in a cast iron skillet and then take the grease and cracklings from the chicken and throw in some flour and stir it until it turned brown.  Then I remember she would open a can of canned milk and mix a half a can of milk with half water and stir it into the skillet.  What would come out when she was done was magical.  It was just the right texture, and taste,  and it tasted great on everything, even ice cream!  If I can manage to learn how to do that, 2013 will have been a great year!

Resolution Number Two for 2013 is I want to start taking lessons on my squeezebox.  It’s a little bit like a small zydaco Cajun instrument but not as big. It is called a concertino.  It’s more like a little Italian squeezebox like you see in the old movies.  I got a bug to learn how to play it so get your earplugs out if you plan to come to the house!  You can start looking for me on America’s Got Talent later on this year!

As you can see, my goals are a little more practical this year but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll get them accomplished!

If you have some tips on the gravy receipt or you are a squeezebox “afinado”, let me hear from you in the comments!

It’s going to be a GREAT YEAR!!