I don't make New Years' resolutions. Never have. Never will. I believe they're only made to be broken. In fact, I don't know a single person who has ever kept a New Years' resolution! But, I did decide a couple of weeks ago that I would loose some weight.
As long as my desire to loose weight was not a “resolution,” but just something that I thought I should do for my own health and comfort, I figured I was much more likely to be successful and not so prone to disappointment and abject guilt trips. And so I began.
I adjusted the amount that I eat, and to some extent what I eat. I adjusted the amount that I drink, and to a great extent what I drink. I'm really doing great at my adjusted lifestyle, in the past three weeks, I've dropped 14.8 pounds. I feel better. My clothes fit better. I seem to have more energy, and I'm much more comfortable with myself. It really hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected... until today.
My doorbell rang. I dropped what I was doing and answered, There on my front porch stood two cute little blond girls, about 8 and 10, in full Girl Scout regalia, with their equally blond Mommy watching dutifully from the sidewalk.
“Hello Sir! I'm Barbie, and this is Gidget! Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies!?!”
“Aww, Honey... I'm sorry, but I always buy them from my Granddaughter.” I glanced over at Mommy and said, “I am really sorry.”
“That's okay,” she said. “You are still supporting the Girl Scouts!”
And I do support the Girl Scouts. It costs me about $100 bucks every year to make sure Olivia (my granddaughter) gets her “cookie patch.” Expensive little items, those cookie patches! But I know how important they are to Barbie and Gidget and Olivia.
Back during the late 70's when my daughters were Girl Scout age, I was a Girl Scout Troop leader... one of the first two males in North Carolina to become a “Certified Troop Leader” by our state and local Girl Scout Councils. My buddy and I, along with four female Troop Leaders, led the largest and best Troop in Charlotte – Mecklenburg... 45 little girls.
Why then do I say “Curses on you, Girl Scout?” It's not because I dislike little girls, Ya gotta love them like I do my two daughters. It's not because of bad experiences being a Troop Leader. I enjoyed every minute of “being a Girl Scout.” I even had a uniform (sans little skirt, of course!). It's because I know they're going to blow all my hard work at eating and drinking and exercising like I should. It's because when Olivia shows up at the door in March with those bulging sacks, they're not going to be full of Thin Mints and Doe-Si-Does. They're going to be full of my hard-lost fat!
But upon reflection, I realize that the extra weight and $100 cookie patches were probably worth it. Today, partially due to my 
guidance and influence, there are lovely young women from my Troop's 45 little girls who are doctors, attorneys, engineers, mothers and housewives... and one Hooters girl.
Oh well... you can't positively influence everyone. I don't know what happened with those other 44 kids!
Support Your Girl Scouts
Buy Girl Scout Cookies!
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