Words to live by!

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Having trouble coming up with a New Year’s resolution? Don’t worry – we at the Kingston Community News have done the work for you. All you have to do is choose your favorite inspiring and insightful words of wisdom from those provided below by your North End friends and neighbors.

“You’ve got to eat a peck of dirt before you die,” was the profound (if digestively disturbing) advice of Debbie Manos’ Grandma Minnie. However, as the illustrious “Miss Debbie” of Kingston Co-op Preschool fame, Manos does not allow her students to begin the loamy learning process while in her care.

God bless grandmothers and their thought-provoking, if sometimes cynical, maxims. Christina Dean of Kingston is reminded of her aged ancestor who often said: “If you forgot what you were going to say it must have been a lie, so you shouldn’t be saying it anyway.” (A bit of a blow to the reputations of those of us who forget the greater part of what we were going to say).

As a topic, marriage begs for advice. John Meek of Hansville, a longtime member of the institution of wedded bliss, offers the following insight: “You can’t ‘try’ marriage; it has to be a full commitment.”

“You don’t always have to like your husband, but you always have to love him,” muses Stephanie Pugh of Poulsbo.

A bit enigmatic, though straight to the point, is the counsel of Hansville’s Ed Dewing: “Marry her.”

Which brings us to Chris Ammann, the singing mail maven who presides over the counter of the Kingston Post Office. “You need to have a sense of humor, like we do here at ‘Postal Improv,’ ” she quips.

“I’ve learned that for every door that closes, another one opens – and it usually has treats behind it,” wags Rusty, director of interspecies relations at Sack’s Feed in Kingston. As a golden retriever on a diet, Rusty shows a certain single-mindedness adding: “Every customer is a good customer, but the very best customers carry dog biscuits.”

Parenthood speaks with the voice of experience, so listen up all of you new moms and dads:

“The two best gifts we can give our children are roots so they’ll remember where they came from and wings so they can follow their dreams,” says Fabienne Jorgensen Finch, Kingston preschool teacher’s assistant and Boys & Girls Club mentor.

“Read to your children,” adds Stephanie Pugh, who happens to be a first-grade teacher at Wolfle Elementary.

Some parental advice is trite but true: “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” reflects Patti Finlon, a children’s aide at Gordon Elementary. Dana Goodfellow of Kingston agrees: “Don’t stress; it all works out in the end.”

Allison Morrison, mother of a two-year-old and Miss Kingston pageant co-director has a good, practical suggestion for rearing blissful babies: “Use wipe warmers.”

The final word on parenting belongs to Derek Sims, who was fully occupied by his lively son Miles at a recent silent auction: “Never bring your three-year-old to an auction,” he warns. (Though some of us who remember the days could amend that to: “Never bring your three-year-old.”

Of course, kids themselves are full of advice.

“Look before you buy,” recommends Makena Hoefer, a savvy and precocious consumer at the tender age of 10.

“Don’t litter,” cautions six-year-old Delaney Agodon.

“Share with a friend,” says Natalie Sheridan, seven.

“Eat your vegetables,” prescribes Blake Hager, eight.

Also eight, and a third-grader at Gordon Elementary, Eric Anderson is a veritable encyclopedia of etiquette: “Use your napkin. Don’t lick your plate. Don’t hit anyone. Don’t play ball in the house.”

“And don’t forget your manners,” adds Eric’s mom, Hollie Anderson.

Barista Jeff Thomas, owner of D & J’s Espresso, serves up a little philosophy with every cup: “Everything’s new somewhere.” (Except coffee, the great common denominator.)

“As you age, don’t give an inch when it comes to your health,” advises the owner of Kingston Therapeutic Massage, Ted Schmid, who began competing in marathons after age 40.

Laura Gronvoll of Kingston takes a pragmatic approach to the New Year: “Do not make resolutions,” she states with authority.

Fine. But do make 2007 a great year … and eat your vegetables.