There is but one week left in 2018. Actually less than a week.

I’ve done the resolution thing without much success in the past. Usually they don’t make it past January. Early January.

I think I am aiming too high. Like paying attention to Crystal when she talks. Not yelling at the television when KU is playing basketball. Those are just not realistic goals.

I think I need to be a little more conservative.

So here goes. Hmmmm. Okay, here’s one. Well, maybe not. I got one. I could maybe try and look like I am paying more attention to Crystal when she is talking to me. Just hope I don’t agree to anything.

I could even do that with Katelyn. But that would more than likely result in me giving her money somehow.

I think I have come to this conclusion – I am just going to skip resolutions this year. That, in itself, could be a resolution.

I will just try and follow the advice of Benjamin Franklin and “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with you neighbors, and let each new year find you a better person.”

That is what I will go with for 2019. You can’t go wrong with Ben Franklin.

Prep thoughts

The Christmas break is a tough time during the prep sports teams. Coaches don’t mind it as much as athletes. For the athletes there is a good two week break from games. For coaches it is a time to focus on practice.

But that also comes with a price of several days without practice and hoping your athletes don’t lose their edge and – in the case of wrestlers – keep their weight in check.

Once the new year gets here it is full steam ahead. All the sports at Great Bend will be up and going pretty much right in step with the return of students to the halls of GBHS.

Good luck to all the athletes in our area as the new year gets underway.

Former Athlete/Coach update

Let’s check in our one of our favorite former Barton men’s basketball coaches here at At the Mike in Steve Forbes.

Fresh off the NCAA tournament appearance from last season, his East Tennessee State squad replaced a lot of points and started the year at just 2-2.

But since that time the Bucs have been playing much better. Forbes’ team has won 9 of 11 since that time to stand at 11-4 on the season. All four losses have been on the road.

The only two losses since that 2-2 start were a tough Southern Conference contest to Wofford – one of the conference favorites. His team also lost at Illinois in a contest that saw travel issues and ETSU arriving at its hotel at 3:30 am the day of the 1:30 pm tip off.

The Bucs will begin a stretch of 17 straight Southern Conference contests Saturday with a home game against Furman.

And Finally

While Christmas is officially in the rear view mirror, I’m sure many of you will still be celebrating with family over this weekend and into New Year’s Eve. That is the case for myself.

Crystal, Katelyn and I spent a wonderful three days up in God’s Country celebrating with my side of the family. It was terrific to spend some quality time with my parents as well as my sister and her family and my brother and his family.

Bambi even made a new friend in my mother. She slept on the recliner with her a couple different times.

The Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Glen Elder Methodist Church was peaceful as it always is.

Just a random thought here, how many of you have always sung ‘A one horse soap and sleigh’ instead of ‘A one horse open sleigh’ when singing Jingle Bells? I still do. I know the words but still sing soap and sleigh.

I must admit I just realized it probably within the last 10 years. Old habits are indeed hard to break. I guess in my young mind when I was learning the song they were soaping up the sleigh to make it go faster. We did that with our sleds. Why not with a sleigh?

I’m sure that is not the only song I have the words wrong. But it doesn’t bother me. I just like to sing Christmas songs. For verification you can ask those shoppers in Dillons last week as I was embarrassing Katelyn while we were shopping. She kept farther and farther from the cart. Darn kid.

Next up is some time with Crystal’s family before 2019 comes our way and hopefully all the good and prosperous things it brings with it.

Mike Marzolf is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and his views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. He can be reached at MarzolfM@bartonccc.edu.