New Year 2021 rolls in with lots of hope that a “shot in the arm” will end pandemic 2020. As vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and others roll out, recipients rush to receive this magical cure. Regretfully, way too many have not yet had the benefit of this new vaccine.

In our crystal ball do we envision attending concerts and church together, large gatherings, spectator sports and most of all family visits with lots of hugs?

Experts advise caution with masks a part of our daily attire to avoid colds, covid, the flu and other winter illnesses.

WE RESOLVE to exercise more, follow a healthy diet, pay down our debts and save for our financial future.

“Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to spark positive change. The recurring themes each year include a more active approach to health and fitness, improved finances, and learning new things for personal and professional development. Chances are, more than a couple of the top 10 most common resolutions will look familiar to you:

Exercise more

Lose weight

Get organized

Learn a new skill or hobby

Live life to the fullest

Save more money / spend less money Quit smoking

Quit smoking

Spend more time with family and friends

Travel more Read more

Read more

Did you eat your collards and peas to boost your financial future? Those dollars and cents add up.

Bobby Williams of Lizards Thicket says New Year’s Day is his busiest of the year. Bill Dukes reports that many pots of these good luck potions were on the front burner at Blue Marlin and Oak Grove Fish House.

ANNE BULL reports that we can kiss 2020 goodbye. Comedian Tim Allen says 2020 might be great for your eyes but as a year “it made me want to poke my eyes out.”

Some folks shared their resolutions:

• Deb Petty is using a program called Duolingo to learn Japanese. She and her husband Don are going to Tokyo in April for the birth of their 1st grandchild.

• Linda Herring plans to donate or trash at least 1 item a week this year.

• Linda Smith will do the same but wants her husband Gene to do it for her.

• Sam Cheatham will avoid Lexington traffic. Sam will be on the golf course.

HERE’S A REMINDER to be on the lookout for W-2s from your employer, 1099s from your investments and K-1s from your portfolios. If you itemize deductions, start accumulating and organizing your documents.

WE ARE experiencing winter weather. This was seen on social media: “Winter is like Justin Bieber. It starts out cute and fun but gets old and you want to send it back to Canada where it belongs.”

ROBIN BOWERS, CEO at Mission Lexington, thanks everyone for help filling Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

“So far, we have given out 1,477 holiday meals to the families that we serve,” she said. “That’s 2,875 mouths fed. We also helped families shop for 698 children. We’re continuing to update these numbers, and will share them in coming weeks.

CHARLIE BROWN: “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures for anything.”

Funny Maxine quote: “I don’t so much break my resolutions as forget them.”

CONGRATULATIONS to Lou and Bill Kennedy on the arrival of their grandchild Lincoln William Bailey, 5 lbs. 10 oz., on New Year’s Eve. Lou’s daughter Xanna and Travis Bailey are the proud parents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Bernice Gibson, Randy Halfacre, Billy Huckabee, Shirley Huisman, John Lyon, Rainey Rabern, Amy Stoudemire, George Stoudemire, Andrea Griffin, Caroline Good, Ethan Hendrix, David MacFawn, Jerry Redman, Ed Smith, Sheila Whitehead, Jeff Harker, Sharron Reams, Sidney Brock, Pete Calvert, Courtney Fink, Lance Niblock, C-Anne Able, Jacob Hester, Lynn Shane, Myla Shealy, Gregory Blashka, Maya Blashka, Jackson Rein, Kim Scircle, Joe Shealy, Wesley Sox, Kathy Tomashitis, Terry Ward, James McCall, Carl Maddox, Scott Early, Billy Colucci, Deborah Van Patten, Todd Shevchik, James Massey, Linda Kerr, Mary Elizabeth Mack, Trayton Hollis, Tyler Hollis, Charles Young, Jessica Catoe, Bobby Belcher, Jessie Merkel and Brie Anne Pontoon.

Health experts say, “Get moving!” Move your body and mind into a healthy, happy New Year!