For '08, eight doable resolutions

Usually I don't celebrate the year's end or list new modes of behavior for the new year. My thinking is that one holiday is pretty much the same as the next, (although sometimes a holiday equals an extra day off on a weekday), and you shouldn't depart too much from your daily routine.

That said, I confess that I am cheerfully bidding 2007 goodbye. After a death in the family, a series of injuries sustained by relatives, expensive car problems occurring hundreds of miles from home, dog behavior issues, a continuing war, and bewilderment at the state of our national government, I am ready to look to the future.

Without great experience at making quality new year's resolutions, I resolve these things in 2008:

• to spend more time with family and friends
• to walk Sam daily while keeping an eye peeled for cat poop
• to clean up my native garden before spring
• to move all delicious food items far from the edge of the kitchen counter
• to speak up for the presidential candidate who wants to lead all of us
• to volunteer more often
• to write daily instead of almost daily
• to finish the book I've been working on since 2005

That's eight for '08. All are measureable and attainable, and I am going to get started today.

Update on Sam's story: The motorist whose bumper Sam ran into two mornings ago stopped by that night to check on him as she returned home from work. I thought she might revisit the scene as she was so concerned about the incident. She had worried about Sam all day. We hope our words alleviated her concern. "I am the person who hit your dog," she said to my husband. "No, you are the person whose car he ran into," he replied. True words.

Sam and I took a walk today, our first since the unfortunate series of events. He watched cars carefully, but showed no notable change in walking gait or snuffling habits. He still required frequent reminders to drop the street debris he finds so appealing and to not walk in front of me. His life goes merrily on, and I am taking my cue from him. Everyone should have a happy dog.

Happy New Year to all.