NEW YEAR MUSINGS
By: Daniel F. de Souza I am not much accustomed to making new year resolutions and if by chance I make a few resolutions I am very bad at keeping them. On the contrary I would rather make a few commitments to myself on a day-to-day basis and see that I fulfill them in totality no matter how I go about it. But then, making new year resolutions is the in thing today. And perhaps, this could be the only reason that I gave a serious thought for making a few new year resolutions for myself. Just for a change in I thought I should begin the year on a different note and live by the resolutions I make. But, somewhere deep inside me I knew that the trouble I take in making the resolutions may not be worthwhile if I am not able to keep up the resolutions. But then again, taking shelter under the age old maxim " A job well begun is half done" I decided to give it a serious try. And just to keep a record, I took a blank paper and a pen and sat down to note down my intended resolutions..I began by noting them serially. Top on the list of my resolutions was.1}. Never leave a job incomplete or undone for tomorrow. (For tomorrow never comes) 2). Call it a day at least by l l.00 p.m. in the night and begin the day early at least by 5.00 a.m. in the morning. ("For early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" - and believe me I need all the three assets very badly in the new year). 3). Make sufficient time for recreation and games and for exercise too ( For, All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'). I was about to note down the next resolution in black and white when my better half appeared in front of me and asked 'So, what is it that keeps you so very busy today? I wish you could lend me a helping hand with...' even before she could complete her sentence I cut her short by answering.. I am engrossed with making my resolutions for the new year and this time I am putting them down in black and white". -" Oh no, not again! I have had enough of your new year resolutions for the last 9 years, or is it 10 years? For heavens sake please don't waste your precious time making some meaningless resolutions, which you very well know you will not keep. Have you anytime in the past been serious about your new year resolutions? Believe me they are not meant for people like you " my wife blurted out her mind looking mockingly at me. -"Come on.honey.you don't have to sound so sarcastic..instead you could lend me a piece of your mind in framing some really worthy new year resolutions and thereafter also see that I keep them in letter and spirit. Perhaps, you could even act as my watch dog to see that I don't go astray from my resolutions." " Watch dog, my foot! Do you remember the resolutions you had made to your self last year?" " Oh yes honey..I do remember them. I had resolved to give you much more time.than I presently do.restrict my time on the internet..so on and so forth..." I replied meekly. " But what is the point, even before the sun could set on the new year's day you forgot all about your resolutions. So, where is the point in making new year resolutions if you can't keep them in letter and spirit?" " That's alright my love, you don't have to blow hot and cold over such a trivial matter. Neither do you have to be so serious about it. After all resolutions are meant to be broken. And I don't think I have committed any serious offence under the law". The phone rang with a deep shrill and I instantly jumped up to pick the receiver leaving behind the piece of paper containing my precious resolutions on the table. Having attended the phone, after ten minutes I returned back to my table only to find my little daughter Bernice deeply occupied in some activity with her wax colour crayons. " What are you doing my ..sweety..pie?" I asked her, bending down to see what she was up to. She looked up at me with a naughty little grin and said, " It's Christmas time and I am drawing a picture of Santa Clause. Do you want to see it Dada ?" I peeped to see what she was up to and was stunned to see the thick crayon lines had messed up the resolutions I had put down in black and white. The crazy lines she had drawn, crossing each other like the ones drawn to keep the cockroaches at bay in the kitchen had no resemblance to Santa Claus in any respect whatsoever. " Where did you get this paper from ?" I asked her with a little stern voice putting in a great effort to look serious. She giggled and pointed her finger towards her Mama. And her Mama in turn pretended to be busy with her work as though nothing had happened. Little did my innocent darling know the extent of damage she had done to my intentions. And so there I was back to square one, the only difference was, my resolutions for the new year and the new millennium were not broken..but they were painted in all shades of red. and pink . I turned to my little naughty girl with desperation and released a sigh... 'If only you had known the damage you have done..' From the corner of my eye I could see my better half smiling to herself for engineering this great mischief. Her charming smile melted my anger together with my new year resolutions just like the way the rays of the sun melt the snow on the mountain top. Looking out of the window I firmly resolved in my mind never to make any more new year resolutions....at least not in black and white !! **************************************************************************** *********** Daniel F. de Souza Konkani Writer & Freelance Journalist C/3, IInd Floor, Elvira Apts. Vasco - Goa 403 802 INDIA. Tel: + 91-832-2510714 Mob: 9822163329 e-mail :[EMAIL PROTECTED] :[EMAIL PROTECTED] " GOD DID NOT MAKE MEN PERFECT, HE MADE THEM PILGRIMS AFTER PERFECTION." **************************************************************************** **********