Resolutions
by
Anna McDonald
Another year has gone by. No way will I let everyone walk all over me. Take for instance the pastor at my church. Every time there is a need for a substitute Sunday School teacher, it is, "Oh, Mrs. Blocher, would you teach this morning? Miss Leah just didn't show up." And so it was every Sunday throughout this past year. Thank goodness for the three months of summer holidays. I must think of a list of excuses why I can't teach at a moment's notice. Let's see. I have a sore throat today. I have to sit with my friend during the whole service. I must think of some more excuses.
Our bridge club meets every Monday afternoon. We have been meeting since we were young mothers. At times I want to say, "Enough! Don't continue it any more." But there I am every Monday afternoon with my dainties which I am so tired of making. This year my answer will be, "No homemade refreshment". I'll just drop in at M & M's and bring their frozen strawberry cake.
Then take my neighbor, Nellie, who has three small children. Yes, she has a baby sitter for them. But I can just look at my calendar. It's Friday. My clock says 8:30 a.m. In comes Nellie all out of breath. "Please be my baby sitter today. Jeannette can't make it. I'll get off early and be home by 4:00 p.m." Before she has finished I have already put on my coat and am out the door. I must get up the nerve and tell her I am not as young as I used to be. She can't rely on me on a last-minute's notice.
Once a week when the phone rings at ten in the morning, I know it is Melinda. It's always just as I have taken a book from my "to read shelf" that the phone rings. In my mind, I have already prepared to put my book back on the shelf for I will be at least three hours listening to her as she relates the continued abuse she has to take from her husband. I try to comfort her. I feel so sorry for Melinda. But it is so tiresome to hear the same story over and over again. She just won't seek professional help. Maybe I'll invest in a phone that displays the number of the caller and so I can choose whom I wish to speak with at that moment. Maybe.
Yes, that is it. No one will make me do that which I do not want to do. Maybe I won't even send out Christmas cards next year. I am going to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and I'm going to learn to say "no".
My day-dreaming would have gone on all day had I not heard the ringing of the doorbell. In spite of these arthritic knees I finally manage to get my feet in motion and reach the door.
"Hi, Mrs. Blocher, I thought I would find you home. My partner for hospital visitation has the flu. Would you be so kind as to be my partner this afternoon?"
"Oh, thank you, Matilda. I was just sitting here day-dreaming. Let me get my coat and we'll be off."
So much for my New Year's resolutions!