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RAMBLES

Typically, New Year’s resolutions fall under the following three categories: eat healthier, get more exercise, and save money.

I’m guilty of making all three of those resolutions, and I always fall back into my usual routine of eating unhealthy food, lazying on my couch when possible, and not having the option of saving money.

Going into the new year I wanted good resolutions that I know I would stick to, and ones that I knew were obtainable. Simply saying I want to eat healthier is too broad a resolution. That could mean drinking more water and no soda, or reaching for some fruit instead of that candy bar. However, I never focused in on exactly what goal I was trying to accomplish by stating, “I want to eat healthier in [insert year here].”

In searching through Google, I found some resolutions I believe I can stick to and have fun with; maybe some of these will fancy your interest too.

By the time you read this I will have been in Clay County for four years, and tonight (Wednesday) I will be heading to my first-ever event covered in the county, that being the Giving Tree (my favorite event of the year).

My first Giving Tree will always stick out in my mind. Tory took me with him to cover the event, and I was scared out of my mind. Suddenly I was being introduced to Robyn VonSpreckelsen and interviewing her on what the event was all about. I was truly amazed at all the work and volunteers it took to make this wonderful event happen each and every year, and it’s an event I’m incredibly happy to be a part of now.

Four years isn’t a long time, especially compared to everyone else here at the office; however, my four years has granted me too many adventures to count. They have granted me several wonderful people I call friends, and just as many people I enjoy visiting with.

After nearly 10 years of writing the Bull, I can never remember (because of age no less) what Christmas stories I’ve shared from my growing years in the Duncan household, but here goes nothing.

And yes, after last week and my “Ho Hummmm” thoughts, I’m getting a little more into the Christmas spirit, but I’m not quite there.

Nonetheless, I think back to when my baby sister Tara was a teeny youngster, maybe in kindergarten?

It was a tradition that on Christmas Eve, all the Duncan’s trekked to Minden to Grandpa and Grandma Duncan’s home for soup and all the Christmas goodies, especially Grandma Duncan’s one-of-a-kind, amazing popcorn balls. But it was one year that the Duncan kids, my sisters and I, “hounded” mom and dad all the way from Minden back to Shelton to open gifts on Christmas Eve night.

RAMBLES

It’s difficult to imagine one act season being over. Usually, when the season ends, it’s simply me moving to the next season knowing that there are basketball games and wrestling meets to cover and then eventually speech begins.

This year, however, is different because I served as one of the Sutton One Act directors. What started out as having rehearsals each week, figuring out blocking, props, conferring about costumes, keeping track of 30 students, and knowing where competitions were suddenly stopped.

We no longer have that responsibility...at least for another year.

As first-year coaches, Ahlona Landauer and I experienced several challenges this one act season. No bad challenges, but we certainly learned some things.

There are times in life when you come upon a person that just stands out, a person who is quiet in his or her way of leadership, but who is a quality person to the core.

This past Saturday, 2016 Sandy Creek graduate, Corbin Hansen, the son of Hooter and Chris Hansen of Deweese, reminded me of the quality “kid” that this young man has always been!

Not because he earned All-American honors in the NCAA Division II national cross country meet in Pittsburgh, PA. Nope, that honor came about with sheer grit, hard work and a deep desire within this young man.

Corbin, since I had the luxury of getting to know this young man, wasn’t always a quiet leader; his demeanor oozes leadership, because of his drive, his heart and his work ethic.

He’ll be the last “kid” that would ever bring focus to himself and his successes no matter what this young man does. That’s not his style!

BULL

Following a long discussion this weekend with a few friends, mainly about the upcoming basketball and wrestling seasons, it took me back to the “old days,” while growing up in Shelton, the days I was a Bulldog.

While I played, there were only four classes in basketball, just as wrestling still is today; A, B, C and D.

We didn’t have the breakdowns in C and D as there are now, which honestly, I wish there would have been, because in the early 80s when I played, there were more schools in Nebraska, so Class C, which Shelton was at the time, we played many larger schools, including Gibbon, Wood River, Kearney Catholic. At least at the time they were larger.

We battled tough against the big schools, at least on the basketball court. Football, well that was another story during my run at good ole SHS.

RAMBLES

In August I took a vacation. Now, I know August seems like it was forever ago (at least to me it does), but that vacation stands out vividly in my mind despite the time that has passed.

In roughly four days I drove more than 1,700 miles around Nebraska. And when I say around, I mean I made a literal circle.

Obviously my starting point was Sutton, and from there I made my way up to my mom’s house in Oakland, where I spent a day and a half with her, along with visiting my siblings, grandma, niece and nephews.

Early that Saturday morning, I started my journey west, with no particular path in mind other than heading some place new.

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