Good Fortune

Some one told me yesterday, “It’s your year, horse lover.” I don’t know about that, but the first day of the Year of the Fire Horse was full of absolute good fortune.

First off, I just flat out asked Shayne’s landlord if he could keep the dog at his apartment. She didn’t say no, instead she said she’d need to meet the dog. That immediately worried me because I can’t disguise that Stormi is a pitbull. I seriously considered some kind of safe sedative because she is so crazy when she meets someone, all excited and exuberant with tail wags and barks, like she is has been starved for attention her whole life. But instead I had a talk with her and told her to make a good impression. Shayne had a talk with her and took her for a two hour walk and we gave her dog biscuits. I honestly don’t know if she made a good impression, but the landlord said they could try. She asked for a big deposit, but Shayne and the dog are moving out. My cat will be relieved and I can have my house back.

I know the voices are hard for my son and living alone is challenging, but the dog is good for him and he needs to be independent and believe in himself. I would appreciate any good vibes or prayers for this arrangement to be successful. I am worried Stormi isn’t an apartment dog, but so far everything about her has surprised me, so here’s to her continuing to impress me.

The next amazing thing is–a script I wrote for “Listen to Your Mother,” made a first round of screenings and I was invited to do an in-person audition. LTYM is a pod cast/live show that is a literary event of original material about motherhood. I wrote a piece about hiking with my kids when they were younger. It kills.

When Shayne was doing stand up comedy before he got sick, I went to a lot of open mike nights and thought I could probably do it. I MEAN honestly, I stood in front of kids for thirty years saying inane things–I have been in training for comedy my whole life. So I am very excited to bring my best to the audition.

Finally, I was invited to spend the evening sharing a home cooked Chinese dinner with some people who became very special to me last year. I haven’t written much about my experience with the Chens, because it’s not my story to tell. But last year I had the privilege of helping out a family of four that were having difficulty with housing. I had watched them all grow up in my art classroom and knew about some of the struggles they had endured. I didn’t really do much, just offered them a roof for awhile and some transportation. It was an honor really because to witness their resilience and their strong love for each other made me realize that my problems were small. Sitting around the table and witnessing their growth and transformation filled me with pride and hope.

I once read that the Year of the Fire Horse is considered volatile–marked by upheaval and great change. Maybe this IS my year. At my core, I feel two undeniable truths: I’m burning away what no longer works, and I am choosing truth over comfort.

The Fire Horse doesn’t ask for permission–it runs. I’m embracing that untamed creative energy, carrying forward everything I’ve learned about resilience, strength, and love, and stepping fully into my own freedom.