Ringing In The New Year Resolutions Run Gamut, From Reading Bible More To Health Issues

It’s that time of year again.

That first day, when good revelers all across the world awake with parched mouths and throbbing heads on unfamiliar couches, rub sticky sleep out of their eyes and try to remember:

Now what was that New Year’s resolution again?

Perhaps Tim Haveman, 28, can rekindle some memories. He’s the pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Post Falls. Those who forgot their resolution might try using his:

“My New Year’s resolution is to read my Bible more, and lead more souls to Jesus Christ,” Haveman said. “I didn’t even have to think about it.”

Last year’s resolution?

“Same thing.”

But maybe you don’t fit in Haveman’s category. Maybe you’re of an unapplicable religion, or an agnostic, or an atheist.

That’s all right. There’s a resolution for everybody.

Some are practical, like Rob Schmidt’s. “Quit smoking,” he said as he puffed on an unfiltered cigarette outside St. Vincent de Paul’s homeless shelter Sunday. “And to make more money this year, so I’m not homeless.”

The pack-and-a-half-a-day smoker did it once, when his wife was pregnant. But after the baby was born, she started again and he started again. Sunday night was Schmidt’s second at the shelter. The 32-year-old had been camping before that. He’s homeless because the people he lived with before stole all his clothes and left a pile of bills he couldn’t pay, he said. Finding winter work is tough, but he’s working on it.

“I’m a jack-of-all-trades,” he said.

Or you could try the politician’s resolution:

“To represent the people that have placed me in office as best I can, and keep our community with the great lifestyle we now enjoy,” said Clay Larkin, 64, who is expected to be appointed the next mayor of Post Falls. That’s his resolution for the city. Personally, it’s “Work very hard, have some quality family time with our family, my grandson. He’ll be 8 years old in April.”

Some resolutions are near necessity:

“I have to be more careful about my heart, and food,” said Tom Rukavina, 78, as he meandered down a Coeur d’Alene side street. Rukavina had a mild heart attack a month ago, nothing like the massive one he suffered 12 years back. But enough to remind him.

“Eat less hamburgers and steaks,” which will be hard. But not impossible. “I still like chicken, and fish.”

Then there are resolutions that just seem to make sense.

Roosevelt Miller and Tina Carr got married Sunday, at the Hitchin’ Post in Coeur d’Alene. He, 48, wore neatly pressed khakis and a collared shirt. She, 37, wore a white crocheted blouse, black miniskirt, black stockings and black pumps. Music seeped out of a tiny boombox.

She’s been wanting to marry Miller since she met him a year ago. “Did you remember to put a little glue on the inside of those rings?” asked Donald Knapp, the pastor, framed by curtains and rows of flowers.

“Oh, it’ll stay,” Carr said.

Their resolutions?

“Try to be a good husband to her,” said Miller.

“Try to be a good wife,” said Carr.