The first of many...

I stared at my reflection in the mirror last night, while getting ready. It would be one of the last times I would be seeing the 2008 reflection of who I was. I painstaking made sure I looked remarkable last night. The little black dress with the silver heels. My hair and make up portrayed the confidence I wanted others to see. I walked out of my house with my chin held high. It was the night I was to let everything go and start fresh.

I joined two of my friends for dinner before heading out downtown to meet up with some others for the remainder of the night. It was a little awkward at first because there were two guys, a couple, and Lissa and me. Lissa and I treated the night like the single women we were/are. It was nice to enjoy a few drinks with friends. The dance floor was packed with people single, coupled, and looking alike. We had a table, perfect for people watching. I recognized some people but they weren't who I wished to associate with in the New Year.

I was approached by a few guys. One was someone who waited on our table when the girls and I went to the Olive Garden last Sunday for lunch. He stopped me when I walked by and apparently he remembered me. He seemed like a sweet guy. Then another guy said hello and asked if I was single. I smiled and said yes while I walked away. He was definitely more interested in my chest than me. One guy decided he was going to force me to dance with him- Lissa put an end to that.

While sitting at our table, I noticed a group sitting by us. There was a guy who had an amazing sense of style. He was put together but it didn't look like he was trying too hard. He was good looking and ironically enough, [at least for me] he was also Asian. He danced and seemed to be having fun and I sat there wishing I had the guts to go up to him. I couldn't figure out if he was with anyone but I never did anything about it. We made eye contact many times throughout the night and then towards the end, he asked Lissa to take a picture of him and his group. Then he asked us if we were alone and when we told me we were, he started dancing with me. If only we figured out we were single earlier. One of his friends did take a picture of us dancing...so there's a chance we'll cross paths again. But for that night, it was fun. Freeing. Young.

The deejay was fantastic- straight from Vegas. The countdown began as the crowd packed onto the dance floor. This was it. The moment everyone was waiting for. We counted down the last ten seconds in unison and erupted into cheers. Good bye 2008, hello 2009. There were hugs and kisses all around. I kissed Lissa and Alina. Hugged Ryan. My heart ached a bit when I saw Alina and Ryan kiss. I've never had the actual midnight kiss. And when I thought about it, Seth wouldn't have been here with me at midnight anyway. So it's fitting he won't be with me for the next year, at all. This was the start of a new beginning. I looked around, realizing this is exactly where I should be. With my friends for the start and the end of every year. They are the ones who stick with me. The true ones don't ever leave. And really, that's all I'll ever need.

Happy New Year.