2013: A Year in Perspective

Uh, can you believe it's 2014?!  2013 flew by faster than any other year in my life.  Like any year, there were ups and downs and twists and turns but, for the most part, it was a good year for me. It was a year filled with big momentous occasions as well as several small victories.  Here are some of the things that happened this year that gave me cause for celebration:

•  Disneyland:  Going to Disneyland in February was the first pleasure trip I paid for all on my own.  I bought my own tickets to Utah but those trips were to visit family and friends, not to see the sights and to focus primarily on amusement.  This trip was all about having fun and taking a break from adulthood for just a few days.
  
• Becoming a Notary:  When Melodie's notarial authority was up for renewal, it was decided that I would take over the role of notary within the office.  So I went to an all-day class, passed the test, and got a letter from the California Secretary of State stating that I was now officially a notary public.  I had to go to the courthouse in Martinez and swear that I would uphold the Constitution.  I felt so official and grown-up ;).
• Going through the temple for the first time:  No, I'm not going on a mission and I'm not getting married just yet, but I wanted to go through the temple.  So I did.  And it has been great to be able to progress a little more and to go with family members to the temple.
• Washington, D.C.:  This was another pleasure trip I paid for all on my own.  I had always wanted to go to the nation's capital and experience the history found there.  So when I saw surprisingly cheap tickets to the east coast on sale from Virgin Airlines, I decided that this was as good a time to go as any.  Luckily I have friends who live in Washington, D.C. who were willing to let me stay with them while I wandered around the city for a few days.  It was just about the best vacation ever!
  
• Getting a driver's license:  Yes, I am embarrassed to say that I got my license to drive a car a good eight years after I could have gotten it.  But better late than never, right?  I drove on the freeway for the first time this year.  After I exited and we were driving the streets of Pittsburg, Mom asked me if I was proud of myself.  "If I were 16 years old, I would be."  Nevertheless, I have a driver's license now.  Who cares if I happened to be 24 when I got it?
• Becoming certified on Accounting software:  I work for an accountant/lawyer.  I was hired for the legal side of the business but I ended up doing mostly accounting/bookkeeping work.  As a result, I had to become certified on a new accounting software that we would be implementing in 2013.  Who would have thought I would ever be certified in accounting software?
  
• Becoming a "certificated" paralegal:  I finished my paralegal program!  I just got my certificate in the mail a couple of days ago!  It feels wonderful to be done with school and to actually be a somewhat marketable member of the workforce!
• Leasing a car:  My Dad and I set out a couple of Saturdays ago to test drive some cars.  I wasn't planning on buying anything that day.  I was just going to see what cars I liked the most and what felt the best to drive.  So I test drove the Chevy Cruze and then the Kia Optima.  Both were nice cars that I actually really liked.  But then we headed over to the Honda dealership and I test drove a 2014 Honda Accord.  For some reason, this car just felt right.  It felt easy to drive, I liked the way it looked, and it has a camera that shows what is behind you when you're in reverse.  The triple threat.  So we went inside, they crunched some numbers, and I decided to lease a 2014 Honda Accord.  I can't tell you how wonderful it has been to be able to drive to the store on my own, to drive myself to church and work, to not have to ask for rides to activities...FREEDOM IS MINE!!!!!

  

  Just look at that beauty!

Happy New Year!  Let's hope 2014 is even better than the last!