Blind's head dipped low. He couldn't even have eye contact with Mina if he desired, but she knew he was averting her gaze anyway. "I know by your silence you're ashamed of me..." he said softly. "I maintain such a professional air all the time, this has truly been my greatest shame."

Mina's mind, still racing, prevented her from saying anything yet. But as she reached towards her bare collar bone, she touched her butterfly shaped pendent that Trudy gave her. Suddenly, she knew immediately what to say. It wasn't any words, but a loud "ooooooooommmmmmm!"

Blind immediately jumped for the noise. He looked around nervously. "What the heck?! Are we getting attacked by a yoga teacher or something?!!"

Mina continued to touch her pendant and utter a loud "ommmm!" but she took Blind's hand to assure him it was all right.

She opened her eyes and exclaimed a loud, "CONNECTION!"

Blind continued to look around nervously. "I feel my lack of sight is only confusing me more? What are you doing, Mina?!"

Mina grinned and bobbed her head. "Summoning my Extra Accessory Perception to tell you a teaching I learned from my cosmic yoga teacher, Yoga Baire."

"I really hope I'm not dating a hippie," Blind muttered.

"Nope!" Mina said with a wide smile. "I shower twice a day and shave my armpit hair so you're safe! But I will tell you some great knowledge to make you feel better. And maybe a little less guilty."

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"Trust me," Blind said, quite forlorn. "If this was a court case, I'd be guilty in the first degree..."

Mina squeezed his hand tight. "Sometimes the universe opens a door and lets someone back into your life for a reason. Perhaps Ashley is back because this is your chance to apologize to her and correct your karmaic path!"

Blind, normally a man full of sarcastic remarks, couldn't offer a single one. He slowly nodded. "That might be the right thing to do," he said at last. "That isn't even a hippie belief, that's just common sense."

"Make that be your new year's resolution," Mina said, her eyes sparkling bright in the star light. "Like I plan to finally move forward after Chad's passing."

"I hope you will," Blind said, squeezing her hand back. "I could use someone as bubbly and positive as you in my life."

"Great!" Mina said happily. "If you stick to your resolution, I will stick to mine. And we can be sticky together..."

Blind's eyebrows lifted from behind his blindfold. "You know what I mean!" Mina said, nudging him in the ribs. "I mean, c'mon," she said, turning to face the starry sky. "This is gonna be a good year! I'm finally getting rid of my danged student loans from Lawson Legal Academy and..."

A deep, lispy voice giggled nervously. "Umm, about that..." The two of them turned around to see Monty Banks with his barrel stuffed to the top with party food. "Now that I'm not da mayor anymore, you still have those student loans kiddo."

Mina's face twisted into a scowl as she squeezed Blind's hand. "Crappy New Year, Willy. Crappy New year!"

Monty Banks walked up to them and reached into his barrel. He produced something that looked either like a herring or another salt water fish.

"Sardine?" he asked politely. "It's been properly cured and stored nicely in my barrel."

Mina took the fish and chewed on the salty morsel. She took Blind's hand and smiled. "At least I've still got love...love and sardines."