Here's looking at you in this brand new year! It is clean as a whistle, no scars or bumps, and it whizzed in here with a cold north wind. Crisp is what it is and ready for you to start making your marks on it. We will make the marks, good, bad or ugly, and they are permanent and we can never erase them.

Words are the thing we don't always think about as having a life longer than forever. We hatch them and spew them out and, as you know, they can't be captured and swallowed as much as we might want to. This year is not yet cluttered with harsh words or words of derision, hate, gossip or any sort of unkindness. We probably will spew out something before the day is over that we will wish we could take back and redo, but as of now the slate is clean.

Our work ethics are sorta up on the ledge too. We can continue on if we are doing our best, or we can decide today to endeavor to do things better. We can right the sloppy temporary fixes, make a determination to fix it right and know we are better for the effort. We can forego the third cup of coffee and head on out a quarter of an hour earlier each morning. I know of many water tanks running over that fifteen minutes would have been enough to keep from flooding the lot.

This is the time for my close relative, and maybe yours, to decide to feed me in a healthy and satisfying manner. Rabbit food is her desire for my meals. She is determined to take most of the fun out of my life! I know a tall old man doesn't look too great with a little pot belly, but I have worked hard on getting it! Can you imagine going without beef, beans, biscuits and pie for more than a day? Me neither!

I guess a million or more will sign up for the use of gyms. They will buy new shoes and shiny pants and shirts, $20 socks, and prepare to become slim and swarthy. I hope they do. Most of them will be so bodily sore and pitiful they will go five times and give it up 'cause they are sure they are gonna meet their maker.

I admire the Grands, the older ones, as they look this new year in the eye and forge ahead. They look forward and seldom glance over their shoulder at the past. They are fixated on the future and what they can discover around the corner. Our oldest Grand has been talking about raising better alfalfa and breeding cattle immune to pinkeye. Glory be! Maybe he will!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, saddle up and ride forward like you were afraid of nothing and could take on anything. We have to be sure we are in the right according to the good book and from there just get to work. The older we get the more courage it takes to face life. But the experience we have behind us makes us know we are able and not alone! We gotta keep on keeping on and, by golly, I am gonna enjoy it as long as possible!

Bill is a pen name of the Gravette author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.