Auld Lang Syne — I have no idea what that means.  Neither did Sally in, “When Harry Met Sally.”

All I have learned, during all my “woe is I” of the last months, is that, love can come with pain.  But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love; rather you should love more fully and more deeply because the pain of loss or impairment of (or separation from) a loved one knows no bounds, even if you love a little. So, go ahead, LOVE a lot.  Take that crazy plunge without the armor of indifference.  Without any armor at all, even.

And out of this learning process comes another very important truth:  I am lucky to love and be loved.  Period.  Heartache be damned.

Even as I reel from sadness to responsibility to exhaustion to anxiety about paying for SOS’s education, I know, in my heart, that all of this is evidence of a fortunate and full life.  So far.  I must continue to be worthy of it.

I wish for everyone, on the eve of 2013, a year of love (without pain), good fortune and humility.  The road ahead is unsure and life takes many twists.

But, today — maybe only for today — I am grateful for the pain that proves the love.