New Year's Eve.
Once upon a time, that was the biggest social event in my life.
Not that there were all that many entries to choose from in my social life, but, relatively speaking, NYE ranked right up there.
And, I didn't go out to the bars, or, to lavish parties, but, I lived to spend time with friends.
Actually, one time I did go to the Eve of Janus, and, was bored to tears.
Sorry, Tri-Delts. It was you, not me.
Anyway, I don't remember much about what I did on New Year's Eve as a child, probably not much, my parents weren't big partiers.
As a matter of fact, I probably hold some record for being the youngest NYE fuddy-duddy ever, as I was probably taught to say, "There are crazies out there, we should just get to bed and it will be over tomorrow", from birth.
That's the primary reason I try to make NYE fun for my kids, I want them to have some good New Year memories with our family before they are old enough to spend New Year's Day vomiting and wondering why all the football games have to be SO LOUD?
Anyway, as a high schooler and young adult, I lived to spend with my friends on New Year's Eve.
Many of my best friends gathered at our summer camp each year on New Year's Eve for a party.
As parties go, it was nothing fancy, but, it was a time to reconnect with friends from out of town or who had gone away to college.
I can still feel the anticipation of seeing that "special someone" at the party, the disappointment of figuring out you weren't their "special someone", and, the joy of being with friends when the count-down to midnight began.
OK, the fact that we could run around unmitigated until we fell out from exhaustion or drink, or both, was also a bonus.
As an adult and a parent, I cringe at the thought that there was shooting of the fireworks at each other, and, the diving in the lake at midnight, but, just for today, I shall tell my adult self to shut up and leave my memories alone.
We were a good group of kids who knew what we were doing.
OK, maybe if you leave out the year of Andrew's 3 day hangover, we knew what we were doing.
Anyway, it's one of those things that seems like it was both yesterday and a hundred years ago, all at the same time.
Somewhere along the line, we all grew into jobs and mortgages, had kids, and, reset our thinking of how one ushers out the old and celebrates the new year ahead.
Every now and then, I look at myself and wonder "what happened?" when I find myself thinking, "Hey, let's get wild and grill steaks for New Year's Eve", but, right now in my life I can't imagine anything better than being with my family and listening to the kids plan to "stay up all night".
Busy Girl is old enough to want to spend time with her friends now, so, she won't be home, and, it makes me a little sad, but, I know she's making her own memories.
No, she's not "going out", a friend is having a party.
New Year's Eve can be a strange event, some people put all the stock in the world in it and try to "live it" to within an inch of it's stereotype, while others cynically profess confusion and disdain about why it's "such a big deal".
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle.
Sure, it doesn't mean that all ills will be magically fixed at the stroke of midnight, or, that the kitchen will suddenly clean itself at 12:01.
But, since a new year doesn't come around every day (unless you live like really close to the sun or something), and, we're ostensibly still around to see it, why not do something a little out of the ordinary, even if your plans are to "just go to bed"?
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I actually am planning to grill steaks tonight. I had thought I might get wild and make some artichoke heart dip. And a cake with splenda and whole wheat flour. I think I might be a little wilder than you are.
I used to enjoy going out. (small sigh.) We did a neighborhood progressive party last year on New Year's Day -- this year we're holding out 'til Valentine's Day. Well, the weekend before. It would be fun to do some kind of neighborhood thing, for NYE. Happy New Year's to you guys.
My family always went to the movies for New Year's (my parents still do it). I remember one year we saw "Dancing With Wolves" and I could've sworn that the entire next year had passed by the time we got out of that theater. That was a loooooooong movie!
I went through the mental exercise of should I go out? I could throw a dinner party! or I could go to a party! or
I could be saved by this huge snowstorm that has buried the city today. Yahoo!
I'll just stay home - fireplace, food and wine.
My kids and I are joining several other families out in the country for a bonfire, food and a football game (Go Tigers!) Oh, and fireworks. Luckily, we have had rain for the last 3 days, so we can actually do the fireworks without fear of the drought. And then we will all come home and sleep in. Nice. Happy New Year, Busy family.
I'm Scottish, it's called Hogmanay here and you are TRIED FOR TREASON if you go to bed before midnight. In fact, I live in Edinburgh and our population pretty much doubles at this time of year with the celebrations. We are sitting now, 2 hours before midnight, in the knowledge that we will be getting wrapped up and out of the house so we can "first foot" our neighbours.
I'm with you on this. When I was little we always had a great New Years. We would go to our cousins and play games and just be goofy, nothing spectacular, but boy was it fun! My cousins and I have great memories because of this time we spent together. When I reached 21 it was out on the town, spending too much money, not feeling the greatest the next day. Now, with 4 kids at home, we're just going to the local buffet (which is a treat for the kids), then playing games, NO FRIENDS OVER! Yah! Have a great New Years!
It's been years since I've actually been awake when New Year's rolled in. Maw Maw.
Summer camp NYE reunions. Boy that brought back memories. No drink involved here, but the midnight swims, the 12:30 AM hot tubs, the 3:00 AM Rook games, the 2 hours of sleep before driving two hours home New Year's Day... Yeah the memories.
Tonight, well, Angelo and the kids are in bed asleep, and I finally have time to catch up in the kids' journals. I know probably not what you had in mind. Sorry.
I'm in the middle with you. People's expectations are sometimes unrealistic about what NYE is or can be. It is another night, and can be lots of fun.We stay home, play games, drink, eat(just like a regular party) then go out at 12 and do a couple of fireworks. That's it, and it's always very nice and special. My 17 year old wasn't home either; I was a bit sad too.
I really liked this post. I have 4 children and sometimes New Year's Eve is bittersweet. I remember all the fun parties before the kids but then I wouldn't trade it : )
I can relate. My parents werent big go-outers either. So we try to make it fun. This year we had friends over for heavy hors doovers and played Family Feud. Some years we watch a movie. We always watch the ball drop, and drink a glass of champagne at midnight. We always invite my BFF and her family, sometimes adding one or two special guests. We always take a picture wearing crazy hats and its fun to look back and see the pictures from the years before. It all started in 1999 with all the y2k craziness. We were just scared the earth was going to implode at midnight.
I have a tendency to call New Year's Eve "amateur night." I have never been to one of those stereotypical NYE parties where everyone's dressed up and looking fabulous (although I'd probably come if you invited me). I've always stayed up to watch the ball drop, though and have tried to keep that sense of something brand-new with me.
Happy New Year to all!
Hello,
Great post......thank you for posting this, and in such great detail. I know you answered a lot of questions that many people are uncomfortable asking!