New Year’s Revolution

This year, I spent New Year’s Eve in my hometown, Pensacola.

It was a wonderful time. I took the trip with one of my newest friends, and met up with a couple of my oldest. It was interesting to see my city through the eyes of someone who’d never been there before—and to view myself through the eyes of folks who hadn’t seen me for a long time.

Old PC has come a long way since Ivan. I can still see the places where certain old oaks ought to be; some businesses that I loved have finally gone under, bankrupted by repairs. But many more new shops and restaurants have taken their place. An overall feeling of balanced prosperity has come to the area. It seems a compromise has finally been reached between Old Florida and New Money.

This year was the first downtown New Year’s celebration, complete with a street party, live bands, and the ceremonial lowering, at midnight, of a custom-built metal pelican. It was freezing cold outside. After sipping Jagermeister at my car and watching one of the bands, we retreated to the Elbow Room, a local bar, where we drank champagne out of a shoe at midnight.

You can’t accuse my hometown of normality.

I felt that this New Year’s was particularly auspicious. Not only did our cross-town search successfully turn up a boingy-antenna headband for me to wear, but it was fuzzy, lit up, and read “Party Girl” in hot pink plastic. Not only was I able to see various around-the-world NYE celebrations, but I actually caught the Moscow fireworks live on a television while dining on fine Whataburger cuisine. I didn’t get pulled over. I didn’t have a hangover. And I found a perfect little spiral shell on the beach for my friend, the last morning we were there.

***

This year, I resolve to move on. To get going with my life. No more waiting. No more hopelessness. We’ve seen what can happen when people have faith enough to work for what they really want. That’s a lesson I’ll keep.

This year, I vow to get happy. I took a risk, choosing to come back to Florida State and pursue a degree—and a career—in what my heart most desired to do. I was choosing what I loved, over what I should. It paid off, and many more chances have since presented themselves. I’m going to take them.

I am exhilarated by 2009. I am terrified. I am afraid I will run out of things to say. But I know I won’t.

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