---

For tonight's festivities, my company is Andy, two levels below me in his office where he sits playing Red Alert 2, drinking Diet Coke, and occasionally blowing his nose with jarring honks, and Baxter, who is lying at my feet, his back pressed up against the bottom row of my bookshelves, pushing against binders full of the papers of semesters past. Every once in awhile, he sits up and stretches, and the clinking of his tags reminds me to pay a little attention to this dog who was adopted into a family of sloths. Then I go back to watching "Footloose" and leafing through old pictures.

It's New Year's Eve, the first I've spent unoccupied since I can remember.

And it's okay.

I've had New Year's Eve adventures in years past, so many that I don't feel lonely on this night. Instead I feel relieved, secure in the knowledge that tomorrow morning won't find me lying immobile in my bed, replaying the most stupid and embarrassing antics of the previous evening over and over and over again.

Anyway, it would be hard to feel lonely after the Christmas season I just had.

Twice I went to get-togethers given by friends where I was able to let the stress of preparing for the holidays disappear as I laughed my ass off with people I've known for years. Instead of being inconvenienced by having to give up precious evenings to attend these gatherings, I felt rejuvenated and grateful to have such wonderful friends in my life. Remembering Patty's dramatic reading of the very horrifying Christmas newsletter, Colleen's intense enthusiasm for her red leather blazer from THE GAP, ON SALE!, TALK TO ME!, and Anne's stories about, well, anyone she's disgusted with, will give me something to laugh at to myself for months to come.

Andy and I hosted a Christmas Eve with quite an array of family and friends, from the wheelchair-bound to a family friend I haven't really seen since high school. People started filing out to head for midnight mass and instead of being relieved they were leaving, I was disappointed the night was ending. The next morning, we attended a Christmas breakfast at his uncle's house that was out-of-control yummy and crowded and merry. Finally, we headed for my cousin's house and a big ole gift exchange and dinner. A present I worked on with my mom for many months was received with a gratifying amount of tears and thanks. It was a good feeling.

The whole weekend was chaotic and festive and even though there were sad times in my family this year, there was much to be thankful for. I am grateful to be a part of all the different families that we call ours, and that includes our friends.

With all that festivity behind me, how could I be lonely tonight? Andy just growled out an obscenity at his game, then sent me an IM (yes, from downstairs) to tell me he loves me. Baxter just finished cleaning his paws, let out a huge sigh, and went back to sleep. And right now Deniece Williams is singing "Let's Hear it For the Boy" and Ren and Willard are dancing in the most '80s of ways.

What more does a girl need?