Because it’s my birthday month, because it’s not only a pink month, or red for hearts, or purple for amethyst (birthstone), because I had a milestone birthday and went all crazy in the head and panicky in the days (who am I kidding: months) leading up to my birthday, because having the penultimate birthday led me deep into thanks and recognition of a multitude of blessings in my life, because I will use anything for an excuse to have a toast with a glass of good Chardonnay—even though I don’t have any Chardonnay, good or bad, in the house at the moment—I bid you, O Valentine February, a fond–yes, that’s right, fond, not resentful—farewell. I have grown up so much in your 28 days and have calmed down since blowing out the singing blue thing on a birthday cake so perfectly round and sweetly topped and chocolatey I cried and ate more than two pieces. I look forward to growing for the rest of 2014 (not growing huge from eating lots of cake, but growing wiser) in areas of motherhood, spousal partnership, writing, and staying in the damn saddle during my lessons. I am so happy to be here, in this unique world of opportunity and creativity. Thank you, February. In your final hours, go and be good to others—send Muses and excellent grammar to writers, confidence to ever-vigilant mothers and fathers everywhere, and apple carrot cookies to horses.

And don’t forget to write.

The singing blue thing, lights blown out.