I find myself, for the first time in many years, facing the year end with not a glimmer of “Good Riddance” in my mind.

Imagine me, if you will, furiously knocking on wood while I tell you this. It is not in my nature to count blessings out loud, lest whoever is in charge of keeping cosmic score looks down on me and says “Hey, wait a minute – that wasn’t ALL supposed to be hers!”

In this year, however, my heart has not been broken (or even really dented, dinged, or accidentally poked a little too hard) even once. My heart is, in fact, the happiest I believe it has ever been.  Yay! (Knock knock).

No one in my immediate family has faced serious sickness (Knock knock).

I have had a job THE WHOLE TIME and therefore enough money to not be freaking out THE WHOLE TIME (Knock knock).

My kids have grown tall and strong – and hopefully will continue to do so (Knock knock).

Everyone is doing well in school (Knock knock).

The dog has not peed on the floor in…well…hours (Knock knock).

It is an odd, yet not unwelcome, thing to look at the year and not think it’s about time for a new one. To not shake my fist over my shoulder, squint my eyes in my best imitation of an intimidating stare (I don’t pull it off well), and mutter under my breath “I am SO done with you, stupid year.”

Instead I have more of a “get over here so I can give you a big hug and hold on a bit before we say goodbye” sort of feeling about 2014. Good old 2014.  I love that guy.

I’d keep this one going. I hope 2015 is pretty much the same. Well, not the same exactly, but thematically similar. Like the even more exciting sequel (does that ever happen?)

While my thoughts on the ending year are wildly different, I guess I have the same thoughts as I usually do when I look forward to the new year – chin up, eyes ahead, heart open – BRING IT 2015.

Whatever your feelings are about the ending of this year, I hope that 2015 BRINGS IT for all of you.

Health, happiness, love, and a pee-free floor.  What we all dream of, amiright?