Closing Time

On the last day of 2013 I started the day with chocolate and coffee, a homage to my womanhood, my singlehood, and my very young adulthood. Then I took a shower, a long shower with lots of soap, rinse-rather-repeat, and the wielding of a razor to symbolize the washing away of the past and the freshness of the future. Then I began to clean my room and pack for a trip I will be taking very soon-- symbolizing the reorganization of my life this new year. And then I ate a salad to represent my commitment to healthy living, but I drenched it with salad dressing because I'm not that committed. I was getting off the phone with a friend, pandora playing in the background, thinking about what we were going to do tonight to celebrate when the next song came on: Semisonic's "Closing Time".

It is hard to not see symbolism in everything right around the new year. Sometimes it just feels like life is screaming at you and today I am actually listening. "Closing Time" seems like an appropriate year-end song.

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here really just means Move on in this new year, don't stay in the same place.

I don't know what all the lyrics mean but the message is there. Or maybe it's not but today, on December 31, 2013 I can say there is.

Tomorrow I'll think about resolutions. Today I'll think about moving on. The last year has been actually excellent. I think about where I was last December and where I am this December and I am proud of myself for the distance I have come.

I'm still processing what it all means, but until then, I'm going to enjoy licking the salad dressing off my plate, representing my priority not to waste time, life, love, or calories.