Thursday
December 29, 2011
NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County
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9
New Year’s resolutions vary for area residents By Jim Fields Jfields@mechlocal.com
Christmas shoppers are still looking for one more bargain as the year comes to an end, and people who are really serious about their futures are making New Year’s resolutions. Who among us hasn’t thought about what they can do to make 2012 a better year. “Yes, I will make some New Year’s resolutions,” said Mary Catherine Reeves. “My big one will be to quit smoking, again. I’ll probably also promise myself to stop spending so much and be more aware of my budget. “I’ll probably keep my resolutions for about a week,” she added. “I’d really like to stop smoking permanently, but realistically, I’ll probably stick to my resolutions about a week.” Denise Ambrose also said she planned to make resolutions.
Mary Catherine Reeves
Denise Ambrose
Nathan Holman
Miriam Gray
Anne Morrissette
“I’d like to travel more,” she said. “I’d like to travel cross country and to Europe. I have two grown sons, ages 22 and 20, and I’d like to spend more time with them.” Nathan Holman said he was going to make just one resolution. “I want to spend more time with my 8-year-old son,” he said. “He’s at such a great age. I want to start teaching him how to play baseball and also teach him about hunting and fishing, the good stuff
a young boy might be interested in.” His son, also named Nathan, might spend some time star gazing. “He got a telescope,” Holman said. “He’s good to go with it.” Miriam Gray said she doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions. “I think you just break them by the first week of January, so why make them,” she said. “I try to be good all year and do the best I can
every day, and that’s the closest I come to a resolution.” Anne Morrissette was busy with her son Gibson when asked about making New Year’s resolutions? “Yes, I’ll make a few,” she said. After thinking for a few moments, she added, “I’d like to be less selfish and more patient.” When asked if she had any special plans for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Morrissette responded, “Sleep,
get a lot of sleep.” Here are a few tips for people interested in making and keeping New Year’s resolutions. To begin with, write them down. Make your list as long as necessary and be sure to be definite about what you want to accomplish and by when you want to accomplish it. Break your resolution(s) down into manageable increments if need be. Next, read your resolutions out loud at least three times so
you start to think about them and get a mental picture of reaching them. Make copies of your resolutions list and post it in places where you will see it daily. Start each day by reading your resolutions list out loud. Give a copy of your list to a spouse or friend and ask them to regularly help you monitor your progress. Start working on accomplishing your resolutions today. There’s nothing magic about Jan. 1, 2012.
OBITUARIES: Death Notices Athy
on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011 at the Envoy Nursing Home. She is surMarion S. Athy, of Sandy vived by her loving children, Jake Hook, quietly entered eternal rest Jr., Carl and Paul Athy, Margaret
Tinsley and Annie Bell Johnson (Linwood); one brother, Kenneth Athy; four sisters, Novella Woods (Dayton), of New Jersey, Grace
Huggins, Vivian Athy and Ella Handsome, all of Pennsylvania; 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grand-
children. Family received friends at the Robert Mealy Funeral Home, Goochland, Va. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec.
27, 2011 at County Line Baptist Church, 4070 County Line Road, Kents Store, Va. 23084. Rev. Walter Jones, pastor.
me. I quickly pulled to the side of the road, preparing to duck and weave through two-way traffic to retrieve said projectile. Mission accomplished. It was a hot-to-the-touch cylindrical object, and I think it had expansion capabilities, like an accordion. With the object in tow, I caught up to Rick, who had pulled off the road. Somewhat breathless from my excursion into traffic, chasing a rolling, side-winding
object and me filled with requisite adrenaline, I held the errant part in front of Rick. I was ready to say, “See, we got screwed,” but wisely, I held my tongue because it would be more satisfying to have him say it. He looked at the object, paused and said,” Oh, I know what that is. It’s inconsequential. Thanks for getting it.” The comment stayed with me for the remainder of the trip. I pondered long and hard
why a manufacturer would put on extra parts that would fall off only at high driving speeds, flying in an unpredictable trajectory and expensive to replace, notwithstanding their questionable purposes. My senses remained on guard as I considered the gravity of my role as the retriever of parts, necessary or inconsequential. After all, I had to assume a part was necessary to vehicular function until
otherwise enlightened. Still, it explains why vehicles cost more than they used to. Next, the kitchen sink. After we got home, I learned the part was used in the winter to divert heat from the engine to the …..(oops….well, something that benefits from heated air)….. AHA, I thought, so it’s only inconsequential for threequarters of the year. Thus, my known universe was restored into alignment.
Just to go on way, way too long. There appears to be a cult of aficionados of full size jeeps (FSJs) clogging the e-waves. I’m afraid I’ve been sucked in. I’ll be buying some scarce (I’m led to believe) MOPAR (OEM) mud flaps for a Grand Wagoneer (emblazoned with the word ‘Jeep’) over eBay. But, the bidding may get intense.
Letters continued from > page 6 to be of useful purpose. Two miles into our trip home and on a busy four-lane highway running through town, I watched in disbelief a dark object uncoupling from the Jeep’s underbelly and propelling itself directly toward me. It passed under my car and under a couple of cars following
Susan M. Peterson Manakin-Sabot