every New Years eve!!!!

It's that time of year, again!   Yup!!! time to make some resolutions

~~~i will learn not to grumble when it is snowing, not happening really and truly not happening

````i will get things done on time...HUH!!! Nope!

~~~~I will try to do more fun stuff , OK I can do that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   especially the trying part

The custom of staying up to see the New Year in was almost a magical mystical idea to this 9 year old.  Truthfully, i was curious about what why New Years Eve, so festive, when it seemed so ordinary to me.  Now 60+ years later, i still wonder at the  jubilant crowd on the tiny screen, while watching from the comfort of my  favorite chair. Hoping for a better year than the one just past.   Resolutions??? , yes, once in awhile, but not this year.  There is no reason to think that the mere change of a calendar page will change any easier.  So why not the start of a new year?  I don't know, nope, dunno! Though that does seem to be a part of a New Year celebration in all of the societies i have seen on the Discovery Channel.  { Ahhh the joys of my misspent second youth}.   Here in the Piney Woods as the temperature and the the snow both keep keep falling.  Tonight is very dark and nearly silent.  Only the sounds of snow plows  traversing the highway farther down the hill and the rare semi who's driver must have nerves of steel and the gust of wind  that dislodges the snow from limbs of the old  Norway Spruce trees  as it lands with a dull thud.   The winds  sounds different tonight,  quieter as if it were trying to sneak in thru the cracks and leaky windows  of this old house.  Quiet, a quiet like when you the background noise stops.

But this is still New Years Eve. 

Now is the time when i look for a new recipe for "Hoppin' John"  no sauerkraut  will be served here, because  only one person eats it.  And they like it grilled with a touch of brown sugar, black pepper , and onions on a bun with a grilled hot dog and may-be some Swiss cheese.  Who knew that sauerkraut and black eyed peas would one day become lucky foods???  

   But i digress, often frequently and alot.

Tonight's meal was delicious even if i do say so myself, even though i didn't prepare it myself.  At least i washed up the dishes. { see what i mean}

 The wicked winds of winter are howling around  my door, snow is falling almost as fast as the temps.   

I wonder about the people who are gathered in Time's Square.  Standing in the cold.    And all the others around the world who are  welcoming in 2026   

Being there, in hope and happiness.

Being there in celebration. 

Being there in spirit only. 

 L

 Long ago and pretty far away i started staying up to see the New Year in.  Staying up so late was really a big deal to me then.  There had to be a reason for people doing  this, for making merry, celebrating with of  fun and lots noise. Was it to scare away the sad and the bad?  Perhaps to welcome the good and positive  into their lives.  

I dunno.

 

This year makes my 66th consecutive welcoming in the New Year.  And if you were to ask why  i do this every year, i would have no answer other than to say because I want to.

Happiness