New Year's Eve 2008
It's the time of the year that I rarely looked forward to. I never dated much and didn't run with a party crowd, so I often ended up staying at home and made stuff for the next day - like cookies or fudge. My Mom and I would share a bottle of champagne, and at midnight we'd open the front door, bang pot lids together and yell "Happy New Year" to any and all who could hear.
There was the year, 1968 perhaps?, that it snowed like it did this December, and blew 5' drifts in my next door neighbor's front yard. I was at her house, and we were, rather, she was drinking, and got it into her head that running into a drift that was taller than she was would be fun. So she did, and it was, apparently. A saner person, I didn't follow suit.
One year we had a family get together (thinking back, I'm amazed that so many of my cousins actually made it) and it was a LOT of fun. It was the first year that I was with my DH to be, and together we actually got everyone to play charades! Even my mother, who was in her 70's at the time. I KNOW - My Mother acting out a movie title! A funny memory. My nephews and my brother had squirreled away fireworks and firecrackers which they lit off in the street to everyone's delight. There was no "New Years at the Needle" back then, so no mass exodus down to Kerry Park to watch. Just plenty of laughter, and we all had a good time. Copious amounts of alcohol weren't needed either. Just enough for a toast.
It was a time in my life when I was giving up alcohol because DH didn't drink. His being an ACOA, I understood this, and changed for him. I know - don't say it. But it all evened out - over the years I got him to relax a bit when I decided to have a drink or two, and of course, he has ended up giving up plenty because of my limitations. Besides, I don't really drink anymore because of balance issues. Not that I don't want to. *sigh*
I had a few silly drunken NYE's, though. I remember one in college when D.S. and I got quite drunk on Irish Coffees at a bar on lower Queen Anne, then he decided we should switch bars and go up to Capitol Hill. We started singing the theme song from Leave It To Beaver at the top of our lungs in the car with the windows rolled down, over and over. No one could tell we were drunk, we were flying under the radar! We ended up stuck in traffic at midnight (like the un-selfaware idiots we were, we didn't look at the time before we left), and ended up completely stopped on Mercer Street. When everyone started honking and yelling we were caught by surprise, but we just joined in until we were hoarse - it was silly and fun. We ended up at El Gaucho for their Hunter Breakfast. It was lavish and delicious.
I can't believe I just wrote about those silly times, but there you have it - a few of the memories I have of this night. Alas and alack.
These days, however, I prefer to watch the celebration on TV, with a brief (and I do mean brief) step onto the porch with a blower to honk and wish everyone within earshot a happy new year. And so, to you all, I wish a very Happy Effin' New Year. Really.
Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well
There was the year, 1968 perhaps?, that it snowed like it did this December, and blew 5' drifts in my next door neighbor's front yard. I was at her house, and we were, rather, she was drinking, and got it into her head that running into a drift that was taller than she was would be fun. So she did, and it was, apparently. A saner person, I didn't follow suit.
One year we had a family get together (thinking back, I'm amazed that so many of my cousins actually made it) and it was a LOT of fun. It was the first year that I was with my DH to be, and together we actually got everyone to play charades! Even my mother, who was in her 70's at the time. I KNOW - My Mother acting out a movie title! A funny memory. My nephews and my brother had squirreled away fireworks and firecrackers which they lit off in the street to everyone's delight. There was no "New Years at the Needle" back then, so no mass exodus down to Kerry Park to watch. Just plenty of laughter, and we all had a good time. Copious amounts of alcohol weren't needed either. Just enough for a toast.
It was a time in my life when I was giving up alcohol because DH didn't drink. His being an ACOA, I understood this, and changed for him. I know - don't say it. But it all evened out - over the years I got him to relax a bit when I decided to have a drink or two, and of course, he has ended up giving up plenty because of my limitations. Besides, I don't really drink anymore because of balance issues. Not that I don't want to. *sigh*
I had a few silly drunken NYE's, though. I remember one in college when D.S. and I got quite drunk on Irish Coffees at a bar on lower Queen Anne, then he decided we should switch bars and go up to Capitol Hill. We started singing the theme song from Leave It To Beaver at the top of our lungs in the car with the windows rolled down, over and over. No one could tell we were drunk, we were flying under the radar! We ended up stuck in traffic at midnight (like the un-selfaware idiots we were, we didn't look at the time before we left), and ended up completely stopped on Mercer Street. When everyone started honking and yelling we were caught by surprise, but we just joined in until we were hoarse - it was silly and fun. We ended up at El Gaucho for their Hunter Breakfast. It was lavish and delicious.
I can't believe I just wrote about those silly times, but there you have it - a few of the memories I have of this night. Alas and alack.
These days, however, I prefer to watch the celebration on TV, with a brief (and I do mean brief) step onto the porch with a blower to honk and wish everyone within earshot a happy new year. And so, to you all, I wish a very Happy Effin' New Year. Really.
Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well
and a happy new year to you! I hate to say this (for fear of being blog slapped), but this post was really sweet. **big AWEEEEE**
ReplyDeleteLinda D. in Seattle
Sweet? Hmmmm. Thanks Linda.
ReplyDeleteI guess I DO do more than bitch and moan around here!
P.S. I'm sure you have surmised by this entry that I grew up on Q.A. hill in Seattle. How I ended up in Tacoma is a long story.