Happy New Year! I am excited to be typing this column, it feels like it’s been forever since I was able to share a little of what is going on in my world with all of my Carthage friends. For those of you who don’t know, I am David’s sister. If you don’t know who David is, he’s the Hoover in Rush-Hoover Media Group. Technically I am his big sister, although everyone thinks he is older than me (huge thanks to Kori Gary at Works of Art for covering my grey hair), so if you see him around town make sure you tell him you’re enjoying his little sister’s column. He’ll get a kick out of that. Well, maybe not, but it’ll give me bragging rights and what big sister doesn’t like bragging rights?
Being his sister, I suspect that I am the first thing on the chopping block when the paper is too full. It starts with a phone call (usually on Monday because I’m a procrastinator and haven’t submitted a column yet), and he says, “Hey Sis, if you don’t have time to write a column this week, don’t worry about it. I know you’re busy so it’s ok if you don’t get it done.” I insist that I have time and it’s ok because I really enjoy writing the column. Then he tells me that there really isn’t room for it because the paper is so full this week that he doesn’t know where he would put it anyhow. Then we hang up and I pout just a little, then realize that this is actually a good thing. It means the people of Carthage are getting a paper they can be proud of! A paper that covers so many events that have happened in the last week that there isn’t room for me this time because there was so much going on with all of you. As a Carthaginian, that makes me proud of our little town! I can forfeit my column space if that means that you get to see more of your children in a photo, read one more Santa letter, or see a picture of a ribbon cutting at another new Carthage business, because that is what The Carthage Press is all about. Thanks for going along on my trip down the rabbit hole as to why you haven’t seen me in print for a couple of weeks. Now, let’s bring on the New Year!
As I’m typing this, it is New Year’s Eve. This year is a little different because my son had oral surgery and still hasn’t recovered, so instead of heading over to Chelle Eby’s kid-friendly party with Johnathan tonight, I am already in my pajamas and writing while I listen to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs playing in the living room. It’s been a busy day moving more things into our new upstairs office, but as I scrolled through Facebook trying to recover from all the trips up the 23 steps, my newsfeed was bombarded with people reflecting on the last 365 days, and being grateful for the awesome things that have happened. I have also seen posts about it being a rough year with people facing indescribable losses, and how they are hopeful that the next year will bring better circumstances. There have also been funny posts about lifting your left foot just before midnight so you can start the year off on the right foot. Whether funny, poetic, or sentimental, it seems like everyone is excited that a new year brings new beginnings. It’s a chance to start again and do things differently, and hopefully better, than last year.
I am usually terrible at sticking with resolutions. Honestly, I can’t even remember what 2018’s resolution was, so obviously I didn’t do a very good job of making a lasting change for the year. I have tried all the stereotypical resolutions; lose weight, exercise more, eat right, pay off debts. Some of these I have done great with for a while, and some of them have been harder to maintain. I think this year I will make the resolution a little easier on myself. I think I will resolve to just be the best me I can be. I will be the best mother, daughter, big sister, aunt, teacher, ad sales girl, columnist, friend, Christ-follower, steering wheel stop light drummer, and shower singer that I can be. I might not be the best compared to others, but I will be MY best. Afterall, isn’t that what we all should resolve to do?
Brandi Ensor is a lifelong Carthage resident. She is adamantly single, spoils her nieces and nephews as much as possible, and loves camping and boating with her 16-year-old son, Johnathan.
