Lost Journal
by Tim Mollen
January 1, 2008
New
Year’s Resolutions for 1979
Journal
Entry: January 1, 1979 (age 9)
There’s
not much time left to make the ‘70s a success.
President Carter, Charles Nelson Reilly and I have some serious work to
do. I’ll do my part, by making
these resolutions:
 |
Visit
Camp David with my Cub Scout troop. Take
Polaroids to capture the scene in anticipation of its inevitable
rechristening as “Camp Jimmy.”
|
 |
Cheer
up the lunch lady at school, who imbues her gravelly offers of
“bread…jello” with enough bitter ennui to completely ruin recess.
|
 |
Break
bad habit of replying to everything my mother says with the word “So?”
|
 |
Bottle
water. Sell it.
|
 |
To
show his solidarity with the less successful among us, urge new Pope John
Paul II to change his name to “Pope George Ringo.”
(Second choice of “Pope Pete Best” would be even more populist,
but could lead to confusing papal names in the future, like “Pope Pete
Best II: The Bestest Ever!”)
|
 |
Memorize
the Schoolhouse Rock anthem that
put a melody to the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
Use similar technique to compose a Wagnerian opera cycle based on the
Pentagon Papers.
|
 |
Horde
new Susan B. Anthony dollar coins, and invest earnings in the emerging video
technology leader, Betamax.
|
 |
Convince
parents to buy two Volkswagen Rabbits, and see what happens.
|
 |
Unionize
our school safety patrol. Use
strong-arm tactics to push through new workplace rules that replace the
traditional, fluorescent orange sash with body armor and night-vision
goggles for undercover safety patrol ops.
|
 |
Tune
into the Oscars to watch Ralph Bakshi sweep the major awards for his
definitive take on The Lord of the
Rings.
|
 |
Petition
my Congressman to revoke the newly-signed Panama Canal treaty, and instead
offer the Panamanians ownership of Love Canal.
|
 |
During
her summer hiatus from WKRP in
Cincinnati, marry Jan “Bailey” Smithers.
|
 |
Following
rejection by Jan Smithers, engage in rebound handholding with anonymous
girls under the parachute in gym class.
|
 |
Start
telling people that I have kept a daily journal since birth. |