Everybody does a column on New Year’s resolutions.

At first, I had planned to do one, but I’ve changed my mind.

The reason is I’m still recovering from the holidays. It’s not that they were strenuous, but because it always takes me a while to get back to the swing of things after spending several days of binge football watching, binge chocolate eating and getting my fill of turkey to last me until Thanksgiving.

Another problem is getting used to dealing with the new year and having to remember to write it every time I slug a story. It usually takes me about a week and then several times intermittently during the first six months to learn to consistently write it every time. This year so far I’ve been writing it correctly each time I’ve slugged a story (but it’s only a matter of time).

So, what else hits after the holidays? College football withdrawal. Don’t tell me there’s the NFL. I stopped watching the NFL several years ago because I was tired of watching overhyped games that had, to me, very little suspense. I haven’t watched a Stupid Bowl in 21 years for the same reason and I have no desire to change that. Give me college football, which is a much more exciting game. If you want evidence, I present the Orange and Rose bowls (I’d include the St. Petersburg Bowl, but State lucked out. Sorry, State fans.)

With the final two games — the FCS Championship between Youngstown State and James
Madison and the FBS Championship between Alabama and Clemson — coming in the next few days, I’ll be without college football for a long time. Fortunately there’s the CFL in June and July to allow me to get ready for the 2017 college season.

There was one blessing this year with the end of the holidays. I didn’t have to return anything. Returns are one way to destroy any holiday cheer you have. We’ve all stood in a return line at one time or another, whether it was at a fancy department store or Walmart. You stand in line, and stand in line, and stand in line. The smart people going to return items bring essentials — aspirin, Tums and a pack of NABS — to help them keep some kind of relief as they stand and watch the person at the counter complain about the return policy and demands to know why they can’t get a full refund for the damaged toy or appliance they broke because they didn’t read the directions.

All of these things are no either over or soon to be over, and the new year has started. And there are, within the next few month some things to look forward to; Mardi Gras, Easter, spring, baseball, summer and then college football again.

And I have a resolution; to lose weight and hopefully one day walk into a store, find something I like, and find it in my size.

Have a good year, folks.

John Surratt is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at john.surratt@vicksburgpost.com.