2013 is fini, kaput, no more. I spent yesterday evening in Long Beach with friends singing, dancing, eating, laughing and celebrating. I saw people I hadn’t seen in years. The experience felt warm and loving and nurtured my soul. Music and dancing are favorites I don’t incorporate often enough, reserved as they are for special occasions. That seems a easy fix in 2014.

I walked into Staples this morning at 11 a.m. to handle to computer debacle. The tech that originally worked on my computer and the manager greet me with broad smiles. Since Staples Corporate stands behind the solution, the encounter is amicable, quick, and informative. I’m shown my new Gateway which first debuted in October, 2013. It is bigger and heavier than my Acer. I like the small, light Acer but must admit to this computer feeling more stable and substantial. Windows 8, if you have not yet encountered it, is entirely different from Windows 7. I tend to like what I get used to, preferring familiarity to advancement – at least initially. This will require time and attention. Additionally and thankfully, I do not have to purchase new software (as in Microsoft Office) because the tech found a disk to install it. The new set up should be available for pick up on Friday.

In concluding the year, I like taking time to reflect on what I’ve learned, what I have to be grateful for, what my mind/body/spirit have mastered. Moving forward, I like to consider where I want to be and how I choose to get there, remaining open to life, love and the serendipitous occurrences that make them both worth living.