Have you preserved 2025 for posterity?

"I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died…no, wait, I was remembering the year Molly Farkle was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. My bad." – with apologies to country music legend Tom T. Hall.

I gave up on maintaining a detailed daily journal a quarter-century ago (around the time my father passed away and around the time I tired of screaming, "Okay, it's a detailed daily diary! Are you happy now???"), but I have disciplined myself to cobble together the highlights of each year in the final days of December, either as a Word document or an email to myself.

(The less said about COVID-era 2020 and the Post-it note of fabricated highlights, the better.)

So far, my 2025 milestones preserved for the ages include: finally buying an air conditioner for the kitchen; signing up for Medicare; adopting two kittens; inheriting my mother's house; serving as pallbearer for my next-to-last uncle; making incremental increases in "nunya bizness" time with my wife; learning to sleep in the doghouse for sharing too much personal information…

Time gallops by at such a breakneck pace, it gives you a much-needed feeling of control to be able to fine-tune events and narrow a date range to a matter of weeks or months. Of course, some cases are more extreme than others. ("Which year was it that I visited Fiji, Beijing and the Vatican all in the same summer? Hold on…that was my father, when he was a Cub Scout. Seriously, I need to be on six fewer committees!")

A one-stop-shopping distillation of your year is so handy. It's invaluable for settling arguments. ("Which litter of puppies did Max come from?" "Did the Johnsons really never miss a single one of our Labor Day barbecues?" "Which year did you dress as Alec Baldwin for Halloween, and exactly how many jack-o'-lanterns did we have to pay to replace when the gun kept firing by itself?")

On the other hand, it can also start some arguments. ("What do you mean you think you unsubscribed to the cloud account that held the only description of our vow renewal ceremony???")

A year-end capsule/database provides enormous practical value. ("What was the name of the handyman who did such an outstanding job on the deck 10 years ago? Is it time to get a tetanus booster shot? Shouldn't our great-nephew be nearing graduation time? Is your mother due for a second compliment? Is the arsonist we testified against up for parole, and why have we wasted our time writing down which movies we watched instead of filling out the Witness Protection Program paperwork???")

Practicality is just gravy on top. Year-end reviews are priceless for reminiscing. You can spend a rainy Saturday afternoon simply savoring memories. Granted, the warm, fuzzy feelings can be threatened as you encounter the progression of certain relationships over the years. ("Fun new neighbors moved into the house next door." "Fun new neighbors ‘borrowed' our CPAP machine." "Fun new neighbors called the cops on us because they didn't like our snoring…")

No pressure, but I think it behooves you to make a habit of jotting down those births, baptisms, promotions, renovations and the like.
Besides the long-term benefits, it could help you strengthen recollection and avoid expensive errors.

"Wait — Clayton Delaney died when?! Then I've wasted enough birthday cards on him to buy that pontoon! Hey, stop recording this for posterity…"

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Controversial author Harlan Ellison once described the work of Mr. Tyree as "wonkily extrapolative" and said his mind "works like a demented cuckoo clock." Tyree generated a particular buzz on the Internet with his column spoofing real-life Christian nudist camps. A lifelong small-town southerner, he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications.

Previously:
• Do you overuse the word 'interesting'?
• Ready for the Grand Ole Opry's second hundred years?
• When you know you've outlived all your #@%& punchlines
• Are you making the best use of your ears?
• Promise not to blink this school year?
• Is bottomless overtime right for you?
• Are meteorologists a dying breed?
• What's your opinion of 'gentle parenting'?
• Do I know where you live?
• Rockford Files? Little House? 50 Years? Really?
• Did you remember your pets in your will?
• Is everyone always in your way?
• Is country music cool again?
• Do you talk with your hands?
• Are you and your blood pressure best buddies?
• Are you hopelessly confused about telephone etiquette?
• Should a sense of humor be mandatory for fathers
• Ready for Pat Sajak's final spin of the Wheel?
• Can the population implosion be stopped?
• Is 'value' a dirty word?Is it nice to fool mother nature?
• Is 'value' a dirty word?
• Ever have a 'work spouse'?
• Has the Pentagon shattered your faith in UFOs?
• Am I overthinking slang?
• Have you ever taken full responsibility?
• AAAAAY! Is Happy Days' really turning 50?
• Could you pass a citizenship test? really?
• Have you ever caused a scene?
• Should society slam on the brakes about this trend?
• Are you terrible at remembering names?
• Is this remnant of American culture doomed, y'all?
• Are free refills the arch-nemesis of the Golden Arches?
• How Are you in the best friend department?
• Baldness: Is not parting such sweet sorrow?
• Are you clinging to your landline phone?
• Are you distressed by distressed clothing?
• Do you have one of those paranormal pillows?
• Ready to fire up those Father's Day memories?
• Are you a drive-in theater enthusiast?
• Have you heard of after school satan clubs?
• Do you like the tradwife trend?
• Have you ever taken your business elsewhere?
• Journalism: Can't live with it, can't live without it
• Shall we sing the praises of public restrooms?
• Given up on your 2023 reading list yet?
• Cold enough for you?
• M*A*S*H, MAUDE and KUNG FU all turn 50
• Does your body hate you?
• Do Gallup poll respondents have a prayer?
• Was your grandfather a character?
• Is a platonic life partnership right for you?
• Do you hate intersections too?
• The 'Rural Purge' of 1971
• Do morning people deserve to live?
• What will Presidents' Day be like in 50 years?
• Are you and your middle name on speaking terms?
• Have you ever met a stranger?
• Do you dare take the goodness challenge??
• Commercial radio turns 100: what are your favorite memories?
• What shall we say about 50 years of home ownership?
• Do you dread opening your car trunk?
• So this is John Lennon's 80th birthday (And what have you done?)
• Come on, get happy: the Partridge Family at 50
• Come on, get happy: the Partridge Family at 50
• Who can turn the world on with her anniversary?
• Inspirational quotes: Are you for them or against them?
• Ray Bradbury: Something centenary this way comes
• 'Ban Bossy': Unintended Consequences
• Almost Here: A Translator For Dogs!
• Will Eggs Become Obsolete?
• Doctor Who: A Fiftieth Anniversary Primer
• The Martians Were Coming, The Martians Were Coming
• Are Pigs Smarter Than Dogs? And Should We Care?
• America, Let's Be #1 At Corruption
• Free College Tuition? Read The Fine Print
• Independence Day: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Typos
• Let's Have More Wrist Slap Punishments
• Father's Day: Can It Survive?