Birthdays and Catastrophe

I'm hoping I've been pre-disastered for a while. In the week before my birthday, I had what could only be described as severe unpleasantness involving a writer at the last conference I attended, I was robbed and had to cancel my credit credits, checking and savings accounts, and put a fraud alert on my Social Security number. My neighbor passed on the same congratulations he received when somebody busted into his truck. "Congratulations. You are now a Portlander."

On my actual birthday, not one member of my family called to wish me a happy day, and since they say things happen in threes, I thought that was it. But then I went into my Yahoo mail only to find that somebody hacked my account and sent out something funky and nasty in my name. Fortunately, I had everything canceled and alerted a few days before due to being robbed - at least the thief who busted the window of my truck and took my pack had excellent timing. But it was not looking like the new year of my life was off to an auspicious beginning.

But I had a good party, and for that I am grateful. It was the first party I threw in my apartment, and in Portland for that matter. Put to good use the Japanese dining table and throw pillows. I finally broke in the fireplace I've been yearning to burn wood in since I moved in. Friends made in massage school and at Breitenbush, as well as one connection from Juneau made it a lovely birthday. It was all very cozy and bohemian and I'm really starting to believe that starting over is a good thing and I can build a good life here. Now, that is much more like an initiation I care to remember.

It really is all about the finish. This last week really sucked, but today I'm only filled with the warmth and good feeling from last night.