She Kept A Parrot
A Journal For Charlie
New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year!!
2015
This will be the year that I die.
Remember the old Buddy Holly song?
Below is a late night photo that I took for a friend, Lemony Gregg, as a joke.
I later titled it, “Cause of Death”.
It was taken sometime in the fall of 2014.
I was seventy-two years old.
I got to be seventy-two years old (plus seven months)
not by making New Year’s Resolutions,
But, by doing precisely whatever I chose to do
without regard for myself.
I never made resolutions to stop my bad habits
or to improve my lifestyle.
I just lived. Period.
I did what I saw that needed to be done.
Because I could.
I still walk, drive, see, read, talk and pretty much function.
The human equipment takes a lot of abuse and keeps right on working.
It’s a remarkable machine.
However, if you inherit a “Lemon”, there ain’t a whole lot you can do about it.
Don’t worry about how you look.
Nobody cares. They’re too concerned about how they look!
This was a fun foto for Lemony. I discarded the cover for a sensible sun screen shirt!
The outfit was for the trip to Galveston since I promised to go tubing with Charlie!
Resolve to:
Carry a stack of $20 bills or whatever denomination you can afford
under the sun visor in your car.
Hand them out to bums on the street corner
Kids at drive-through windows
Waiters
Whoever looks as if he could use one.
Never decide whether he looks as if he “deserves” it.
Make no judgements about who he is or why he is there.
Don’t give a damn what he does with it.
Don’t impose your standards and value system on anybody else.
Just be kind.
Help other people.
Do what you can:
Make a septic tank.
Clean a toilet.
Dig a ditch.
Change an adult diaper.
Write a business letter for a kid.
Use your talents to help.
And have a wonderful 2015.
You’re allowed to complain every step of the way…
As long as you keep on stepping!
🙂
28 Comments on “New Year’s Resolutions”
Comments
She Kept A Parrot 
Just became aware of your blog – and Totsymae says hi! WOW.
I just pinned your photo with the camera and the cigarette my “More than Hanging In” board on Pinterest – and will be linking this post to “When you feel like you can’t bounce back” on my blog. If you have pings enabled, you’ll see it when it goes live.
I am starting life over (again!) and actively looking for positive role models. Babycakes, you MORE than qualify!
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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I heart this post & I heart YOU!
As for your 3rd selfie…NICE LEGS *whistle whistle*
{Hugs}
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What a great way to start the year. You put the rest of us to shame, George. Defy the odds, stay alive in one-five.
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Well, Andy, I got bored with all this talk of dying since I’m not sick, and I’d get bored with it even if I felt ill. Chuckle… Thanks for stopping by, Andy!
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As usual, I’m late to the party. I spend my weekends catching up on the blogs I follow. Anyhoo, I LOVE these resolutions! I am so glad I’ve gotten to know you!
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Wonderful images, thoughts and words, George. You just keep on keeping on, my dear, you just keep on being you. Adrian
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Dear George,
O Totsy told me to come take a peak here and I’m so glad she did that. I’ll have to look at adding some $20s to my car’s visor and also see whose adult diaper needs changing 🙂 Happy New Year and your final year will be full of many shining moments!
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Loves George! Always wishing you the very best in this journey. Beautiful photo!
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Excellent, George! My new year’s motto? Everybody’s perfect. All the very best and thank you for sharing so generously.
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Hey there George. Good to see your post … both pictures made me laugh. Would you believe that I’m writing you from Switzerland! Joanna finally dragged my sorry ass off the farm, and here I am. Not having the time of my life (and not because Switzerland isn’t a wonderful place) … but I’m here. She told me to tell you that we were walking yesterday in a bit of a park with an aviary that has TWO African Gray Parrots. My daughter and son-in-law had been visiting these two animals for months and months, trying to get them to say ‘hello.’ Joanna walked right up to say, ‘Hello,’ and, don’t now you, one of the little guys greeted her back, ‘Hello.’ My daughter and her husband nearly fell over. She’s an animal whisperer for sure. Be well. Thinking of you. D
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This is a wonderful post weaved wisely… You are amazing lady dear George. Wishing you the best, Happy New Year! 2015 be your year dear! Thank you, love, nia
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Great advice, great words, you are very wise George. I hope the death part will allow you to live as much as you can in 2015, all the best George.
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Dear George,
Thank you for a beautiful, thoughtful, and inspiring post. Wishing you a very good new year–I have a feeling you will make the most of it.
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Shimon is a hard act to follow, right! 😉 So I will just say thank you. THANK YOU.
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Happy new year (last one or not) to my very talented sister!
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Yes, I remember the old Buddy Holly song “That’ll Be The Day”! Who else do you know more than me who would not only remember this song, but also the lyrics and the meaning behind them:
Well, that’ll be the day when you say goodbye
Yeah, yes, that’ll be the day when you make me cry
You say you’re gonna leave me, you know it’s a lie
‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die.
When you finally decide it’s time to leave, it’s you that will be passing into the eternal peace, love and happiness we’ve been told about during our entire stay upon this earth. It’s us who will be left to die. When you leave, you’re going to be taking a big piece of each and every one of us with you.
I’m chuckling at the scenario where Dean-o is standing there waiting for you and says “Remember right before I left when I asked you if you thought there was anything to this after-life stuff?… well…. there sure is!”
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Your list is best I’ve seen. Your photos and attitude are uplifting! Thanks for a great start to the new year. ~SueBee
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Now that is a glamor shot! I love your advice for living. As ShimonZ wrote, death is waiting for us all. Live, enjoy every day and do something for others. Cheers!
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Is it ok to say you look great? Wishing you all best for getting as much out of that lemon while you can George! Fabuolus list by the way!
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Ah, you don’t fool me, George—doctors, schmoctors, you’re gonna live forever, my fiend!
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I’ve only ever managed to stick to one new years resolution…. that was, to never make any more new year resolutions. 🙂
All the best for 2015, hope it’s a good one for you. 😀
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Enjoy every day every moment , George, a good 2015 to you!
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Very nice thoughts indeed
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I love your spirit and that bright and colourful wrap you’re wearing. Beautiful self portraits George, here’s to a fantastic 2015 and may we have the pleasure of your wit and creativity for as long as possible. Happy New Year! 🙂
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Who said this is the year u will die? They don’t know! U will live as long as u want, and that will be a long time because u love people and life. U have helped every person you’ve ever come in contact with, whether it be a kind word, an explanation and counseling, money, a recommendation, etc. I could go on and on about your gifts and generosity! And u are the most determined person I know, so I think u will live as long as u want! And after your body passes, your spirit will always be with us, and u will still be taking care of all of us from heaven! So a very Happy, healthy, and fantastic New Year to u, George, my dear friend. I’ve got some more chocolate covered cherries for u, if I can drop them by sometime. Love u, Glenda
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Thank you, Glenda. You are a good friend to so many people. Including me. As Kelli says, “I live to serve!” She says it in a joking tone when I thank her for taking care of me by always showing up with precisely what I need when I need it. She minimizes her service to others, but she is always there just as you are. Few people hang around for me for so many years, Glenda. Bless you. Come when we aren’t freezing to death around here! Spring will come, I think, since it usually does… Chuckle… 🙂
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Love your new year’s resolutions, and the pictures too. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you, and I wish you a very good year. As for death, it’s waiting for us all… but life can offer a lot of surprised and opportunities… sometimes, till the last minute. Wishing you the best.
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Thank you, Shimon. You’re one of the most interesting characters I’ve met here. I see you in my mind’s eye precisely the way your Gravatar presents you. oddly, I know that it is an incomplete portrait of who you actually are, but you’re far too complex to be captured in one portrait, I think. I know that you were a gifted portrait photographer, but I wonder whether anybody photographed you. ??
Thank you for your good wishes. Life is always filled with wonderful surprises when we allow ourselves to see. I wish you a very good year as well, Shimon! Here’s to living to the very end! 🙂
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