Can You Hear Me, 2010?

Well that's it, the end of 2009. It is now officially 2010. A new year. Heck, a new decade. I can't believe that 2009 has already come and gone. It's been a busy year, and letting it go is bittersweet. It's hard to say goodbye to the last year that Super Granny saw. Now is the start of a year that will never know her or how special she was. In a way, watching the ball drop was like counting down to reality—down to the second until I really have to come to terms. In 2010 I will have no new encounters with her, no new conversations, no new words of sage advice. Strange. Life is fleeting. But still, I have high hopes for you, 2010. So don't let me down, alright?

Here's the part where I tell you what I want to accomplish this year, the part where you listen, 2010, and we shake hands and agree to work together to do whatever it takes to help me realize said goals, resolutions, whatever. So listen up.

First. I want to finish my novel. I want a complete manuscript ready to send out to agents or publishers or whoever needs it.

I want to lose weight. I say that every year, but I'm not messin' with you this time, 2010, got it?By the time I graduate from A&M, I don't want to have 'lose weight' on my list of resolutions for the next New Year. Let's see what we can do about that, huh?

I want good grades. I'm determined to graduate with at least a 3.5 And I want to get my pesky foreign language requirements out of the way so I can focus on the classes that are actually important to the things I want to do in my life. Like writing, literature, etc. And I suppose it'd be nice to really learn the language while I'm getting the classes out of the way, but... See here, 2010, if we can just get me passing grades I can compromise on this resolution, how about it?

I'd also like to get my phys. ed. credits out of the way this year, so I don't have to worry about that my final year.

I want to stay on track for a Spring '11 graduation.

I want to read Moby Dick. All of it, beginning, end, AND middle. And I want to read more. I want to devour classic literature and grow in my understanding of it.

I want to write more. As in more often, more content, more quality.

See, there, that's not so bad, right? Definitely all doable, wouldn't you say? Me and you, 2010, we could be great together. There is no limit to what we can accomplish.

And I reserve the right to add more resolutions as I see fit, 2010. Are we clear?

Good.