Sunday, January 6, 2013

Lucky 13

One last thing to share for closing off 2012...

I've wondered a bit about 2013 - how lucky can the year be that has "13" in it, which means all of us will be thinking, saying and referencing "13" far more than we would at any other time of our lives. Not many people remain who would have been alive in 1913, and almost no one who will be alive in 3013 has been born yet.

Well, something happened to me on New Year's Eve that has me believing 2013 is going to be a great year.  No "triskaidekaphobia" (fear of the number 13) for me.

We dined and rang in the New Year with friends at a beautiful beachfront restaurant on the Bay of Banderas.  Around 9:00 pm, when our antipasto course was about to be served, we noticed a large, brilliant-green grasshopper crawling in our direction along the restaurant deck railing.  It struck me as unusual to see such an insect at that time of night, and I dug in my bag for my camera.  As I was pulling the camera out of its case, the grasshopper leaped from the railing and landed on the table right in front of me, so I was able to get a good shot. (I would insert the photographic proof here, but Blogspot appears to have changed the process for uploading a photo and I cannot figure out how to access/upload my picture).

The grasshopper sat in front of me for quite a while, and my husband commented "That has got to be a lucky sign!"  I looked up the symbolism of the green grasshopper a few days later and was very pleased to find out it is a highly signifcant symbol in many cultures.  It signifies good luck, as well as happiness, health, longevity, wealth, abundance and virtue, among many other positive attributes I would be only too happy to have show up in 2013!  In addition to being seen as a status symbol and sign of nobility, it is also considered to be a harbinger of good news on a large scale - apparently I can expect to receive "profoundly joyful news that will benefit the entire community"!

A green grasshopper signifies fresh starts and new beginnings, growth and adventure.  I can't think of a better time for this critter to show up in my life than on New Year's Eve.  I have already taken its message to heart.

Todo bien.