Dear 2013-

Where did you go? It seems like just a few days ago that I was trying to figure out what to do with you. You had such possibilities, so shiny and new. And here you are, old, wrinkled, well-worn. We had some times, didn’t we?

This is goodbye. I know you don’t want to break up. It’s me, not you. Okay, it’s you, but you can’t help it. You came with an expiration date and at midnight, you’ll fade into the annals of What Once Was.

Speaking of goodbyes, I had a few this year. They always make me sad, even if–ultimately–some of the farewells are for the best. I miss those who have moved on. Some know how I feel. Others? I can’t speak for them. They may be just as happy to have me gone, like the old year.

2013, you presented me with more opportunities. I continued to pursue my road to independence in the publishing arena. You weren’t quite as good to me as 2012 was, but that’s okay. We learned new things together, you and me. And we stretched. This was good. You kept me DEDICATED month-to-month and I thank you for that. You saw the “birth” of Sade, Sinjen, Caleb, Ariel, Roman, Nikos and the other denizens of the Penumbra Papers. You brought new readers for MOONSTRUCK and taught me that I can’t say goodbye to the Wolves and their families. I’ll just have to work harder to make room for them in the schedule. 😀

I learned from you, dear 2013. I learned I could stand on my own, to take chances, to move on when life deemed it necessary. Thank you for that.

I don’t know what your newer, shinier brother will bring, but I can’t really complain about you. All in all, you were good to me, though you left some unfinished business. Hopefully, 2014 will take care of it.

Sometimes, 2013, we were BFFs. Other times, frenemies. That’s okay. You weren’t perfect and the Universe knows neither am I. We managed to sort out our differences and get along for 365 days. Take care of yourself, old friend. I have your memories recorded. I won’t forget you. And isn’t that the final word? To live on in someone’s memory?

All the best-

Silver