New Year's Eve Day

It seems like an appropriate day to be the last day of our Experiment, doesn't it?

New Year's Eve is my favorite holiday. Traditionally, I'll take an hour or so for myself to read over my journal, any (bad) poetry or other writing endeavors, and take stock: try to get a clear picture of what happened this year.

Then I dress up, light some candles, gather some photos of family members who have passed, and have a little conversation with the Universe. I say thank you for what has been. I sit in the now. And I ask for what I want the next year to be like. It is a little like prayer and a little like ritual and it is my favorite part of the holiday.

The parties and champagne are secondary.

29 things I am grateful for as we say goodbye to 2009:
1. Leaving my old job
2. Getting rid of 75% of my stuff
3. Packing up my car
4. Taking 18 days to drive across the country
5. The red rocks of southeast Utah
6. The mountains of Salt Lake City
7. The plains of Kansas
8. St. Louis
9. The city of Chicago
10. The Outer Banks
11. Arriving in DC
12. Getting a new job
13. Getting two new apartments
14. New friends
15. Free museums
16. The view from the top of the Washington Monument
17. The view from my apartment window
18. Writing a novel
19. Walking to work
20. Family and friends coming to visit
21. The change of seasons
22. Coming home
23. Living the questions
24. Money in bank
25. This healthy body
26. Singing
27. Travel
28. This moment now
29. Whatever is next.

I wish: to know what I want.

As a sign that I've been heard, I ask the Universe to send me: a new year. (hey: we're cheating. But I want to meet the Universe somewhere tonight and say thanks in person)