What could be a better way to usher in the new year, then by downing an entire bottle of wine (along with other assorted spirits) with a close friend. It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent the past several December 31’s with the same person (sans last year’s Saint Louis debacle, which I would prefer to forget about sooner rather than later). But Sarah and I, no matter how close we are or aren’t always seem to find each other on New Years. It’s nice, and it’s a tradition that I wouldn’t mind keeping.

In a way the new year is all about breaking traditions though, right? I mean, the new year resolution and such. People always ask me what mine is, and I seldom have a good answer for them. It’s not that I don’t think about it, because to be honest, around this time of year it’s hard not to think about what part of your life needs to be exorcised in attempt to make yourself a better man. People can’t help but throw theirs in your face. “I’m quitting smoking,” they’ll say, as though in a feeble attempt to get you to help them somehow achieve their goal. Why do I need to share that with anyone? It only makes it more embarrassing when you have that cigarette. I guess I understand why you’d want someone to know about all the positive changes that you’re attempting to make in your life, but I still hold to my belief that it’s better to keep those kinds of things in your life secret.

For the record, I haven’t had a cigarette in months.

In an attempt to completely eulogize 2007 however, I journeyed back to my trusty xanga to review. I figured that within the various literary gems that I wrote last year, I would find various things to reflect upon. Lost loves, important people coming and going from my life, life changing events that occurred in 2007 that would give me pause. I didn’t find much to make me mildly change my pace, much less pause. Was 2007 truly such an empty year?

Or perhaps I’m being too picky. Truth be told 2007 probably wasn’t as exciting as 2006 was. But only in the most maudlin sense of the word “exciting.” I didn’t fall in love this year. I didn’t graduate from anything, I’d done the whole “living on my own” thing a year earlier than most people, and I didn’t accomplish much more than should have been expected of me. I think that someday when I look back on the course of my life, 2007 probably isn’t going to be one of those milestone years that sticks out in my head.

Looking on the bright side of this slightly gray picture though, there is far less to say goodbye to. Part of the reason I’m finding it hard to eulogize 2007 is there is far less that requires paying tribute to. I left a lot of baggage at the door at the beginning of 2007, I headed into it with a bright outlook and a fresh perspective. I think 2007 kind of melted into 2008. I’ve still got a lot of “spillage” I guess you’d say.

This New Year’s feels less like a beginning and more like just a complication.

We’ll see where this year takes me. Hopefully I’ll look back at these blog entries next year and be able to write something decidedly more interesting than what you just finished reading, eh?