Twenty-Three

It all started when I was student number twenty-three in grade school roll call. From that point forward, the number twenty-three has stuck with me like a shadow. Back then, I lived on route 23. My sports jersey numbers were always twenty-three. Door prize numbers, random stickers in my garments, twenty-three just started showing up everywhere. Even today, my current street number has twenty-three in it. I’ve come to expect that number in my life. At first I thought it was my “lucky” number, but then one rainy, hot summer night I was sideswiped by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway, it was on the twenty-third of that month. So, I started thinking of it more as my “life” number than a “lucky” number, a number that just seemed to follow me around.
However, I remained hopeful that it was still going to be a “lucky” number for me, since twenty-three and I seemed to be inseparable. Especially as the year 2022 came to such a tragic close for our family, I had high hopes for 2023. Those hopes were soon dashed as bad things started to snowball, avalanche style. We experienced more tragic losses of friends and family members. I lost my job with my employer of 40+ years. Had a milestone birthday that reminded me I’m well over the hill. 
So as the year comes to a close, I’m ready to boot it to the curve. Of course, there are always things to be thankful for, and I’m truly grateful for the blessings in my life. But I’m done with this year. Completely and totally done. 
So, on this last evening of the year, I’m rubbing my hands together in greedy anticipation, hoping things look up in 2024. In fact, I’m writing this blog post to throw positive thoughts out into the universe, so that maybe good things will manifest themselves in the year ahead. 
Goodbye to 2023 and good riddance. Happy 2024 to all. May the year ahead bring all you’ve ever wished for. Till next year……