Our New Year's Eve celebrations are very tame these days – quite unlike those of days gone by when we hired a baby sitter, got dressed up, and prepared to see in the New Year at a big party. Entertainment was spontaneous and sometimes depended upon what toys our host's children received for Christmas. Can you imagine thinking adults playing Twister in evening clothes? I was wearing the beaded top shown here and a white mini-skirt the year I learned to do the twist to the latest Chubby Checkers hit record. Can you imagine Carl doing the twist? You're right. He didn't.
For the past several years, we've practiced spending New Year's Eve at home with our close friends, Brenda and Tom Flood. It's Christmas and New Year rolled into one since they always spend Christmas out of town. Although our gathering is small, we dine in a style equal to the finest restaurant. Our menu this year: Caesar salad, chateaubriand, red cabbage, asparagus, and sautéed white sweet potatoes followed by coffee and tiramisu.
Rather than dancing the night away, our guests usually manage to make it all the way to about 9:15 when they wish us a happy new year and go home. We still have the bottle of champagne we bought several years ago to celebrate with them because they never stay long enough to help drink it. Carl and I usually manage to stay awake in front of the TV long enough to watch the ball drop in New York and the peach drop in Atlanta.
Speaking of the peach drop, going downtown to see it in person is the closest we ever came to being in a genuine mob. Things were fine until it was time to leave. The crowd was so dense and shoving that one woman panicked and started screaming that her feet were no longer on the ground. We could only go where the crowd was going. We were packed so tight that no one could fall. That was a good thing because there is no doubt in my mind that a fall would have meant being trampled to death. It became truly frightening when we realized we could only go forward due to the relentless push from behind. There was no way out.
About the time we thought we were sure to be crushed against a chain link fence, we managed to squeeze through the opening to the MARTA station. Breathing a sigh of relief, we boarded the train and found a seat, only to be treated to a totally drunk, mostly passed out woman being supported at her waist by her male companion. Her upper body was hanging over Carl while she periodically moaned, "Oooh, I don't feel so good. Ooooh, I think I might throw up." Much to our relief, they finally got off the train without a mishap.
That's when we decided there's something much nicer about celebrating each new year with a quiet evening at home and wonderful friends. Happy New Year everyone. May 2009 bring you health, happiness, and quiet evenings with friends and family.
For the past several years, we've practiced spending New Year's Eve at home with our close friends, Brenda and Tom Flood. It's Christmas and New Year rolled into one since they always spend Christmas out of town. Although our gathering is small, we dine in a style equal to the finest restaurant. Our menu this year: Caesar salad, chateaubriand, red cabbage, asparagus, and sautéed white sweet potatoes followed by coffee and tiramisu.
Rather than dancing the night away, our guests usually manage to make it all the way to about 9:15 when they wish us a happy new year and go home. We still have the bottle of champagne we bought several years ago to celebrate with them because they never stay long enough to help drink it. Carl and I usually manage to stay awake in front of the TV long enough to watch the ball drop in New York and the peach drop in Atlanta.
Speaking of the peach drop, going downtown to see it in person is the closest we ever came to being in a genuine mob. Things were fine until it was time to leave. The crowd was so dense and shoving that one woman panicked and started screaming that her feet were no longer on the ground. We could only go where the crowd was going. We were packed so tight that no one could fall. That was a good thing because there is no doubt in my mind that a fall would have meant being trampled to death. It became truly frightening when we realized we could only go forward due to the relentless push from behind. There was no way out.
About the time we thought we were sure to be crushed against a chain link fence, we managed to squeeze through the opening to the MARTA station. Breathing a sigh of relief, we boarded the train and found a seat, only to be treated to a totally drunk, mostly passed out woman being supported at her waist by her male companion. Her upper body was hanging over Carl while she periodically moaned, "Oooh, I don't feel so good. Ooooh, I think I might throw up." Much to our relief, they finally got off the train without a mishap.
That's when we decided there's something much nicer about celebrating each new year with a quiet evening at home and wonderful friends. Happy New Year everyone. May 2009 bring you health, happiness, and quiet evenings with friends and family.
