European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Columns let realism be your guide for new year s by John Windrow Magazine editor the world goes to Lill As , Hul now s the Lime of year when we pave the Way with Good intentions. All of my friends who Wolf Down one cigarette after another  they will quit. Those who hang around the bar for hour Afler hour suddenly Lurn a jaundiced Oye on booze. My companions who arc thick in the Middle mutter darkly about calories while sugar and cholesterol. People who love to sleep Inte vow to discover the bracing delimits of  rising. My fellow newspaper Hacks who consider themselves great novelists imprisoned in the bodies of heal writers Ond copy editors Tell me who severe determination this is the year they will quit talking about that novel and dually Sil Doxon and write it. New year s approaches and resolutions pop up like Lovely Little Flowers after Spring Rains. No doubt they la Bloom and fade and soon be forgotten. New year s resolutions Are a denial of reality. None of us adults wants to admit that we re probably As decent and accomplished As Well Ever be that life from Here on out is a struggle to hang onto whatever Good habits and Virtues we be  to cultivate so far. I came across an article in the sinn amps Lipes last week that warned of the dangers of great expectations on january the first. Some pop psychologist was quoted saying thai people set exalted goals for themselves with their resolutions and Are invariably crestfallen when they fail to measure up. Therefore 1 arrive at my first  resolve. I will resist the temptation to Lay out sweeping Lolly resolutions for myself. I will temper my Good intentions with a Pinch of realism. Instead of promising to finally  to play the piano i make the following Resolution i will continue to wander through music stores Al least three limes a year and look longingly at the pianos. I will have a moment of silence for my sainted Mother Back in Tennessee who tried mightily to Force me to take piano lessons. 1 will think of her with fondness and say to myself yes Mother you Are right. Learning to play the piano does t make someone a Sissy and yes now that i m grown i really wish i d listened to your advice. I wish i could sit Down and Delight my friends by pounding out the Maple Leaf  that was t so bad. Here s another i firmly resolve logo into Book stores snatch up War Andev in