"It's Just Another New Year's Eve".....is that supposed to be good news??

"It's just another New Year's Eve".... so the Barry Manilow lyrics remind us this time each year.  I'm sure that song was meant to be an encouragement to all those who, like me, have hated New Year's Eves since practically the beginning of time....Dan Fogelberg's little New Year's ditty was pretty darn depressing though.  yeah - don't we all want to meet up with our old lover in a grocery store and still go away lonely!  I don't like this day.  And I'm not sure I can put my finger on why....it's most likely the ridonkulous expectations we  pin on this day that I am victim to - i.e. you need to be in love with someone, you need to be out at a slammin' party on this night, you have a fresh new year ahead of you,......Bah Humbug!  Sorry, my first name ain't Polly and the middle name is not Anna. 

The only New Year's eves I remember actually liking were when I was a kid and was "allowed" to stay up to see the New Year in....it was one of the few times in my life when potato chips and dip and soda (read "pop" - I AM from Pittsburgh) were brought into our house.  And we banged pots and pans at midnight much to the neighbors' chagrin I imagine (imagine my surprise when I moved to central PA and now hear rifles going off!  Oh the joys of Hooterville!).  I also liked when I was old enough to babysit.  Those were nights of rakin' in the big bucks.  Instead of a mere $.50/hour, the special event rate was somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.00/hour with a shift differential after midnight.  Fortunately my clients liked to party til about 3 a.m.   And there was one party when I was a senior in high school I think - it's all a foggy memory now - but somebody's older brother brought booze.  I know - you're shocked - prudish little Marcia Brady wannabe (well, not anymore) actually had alcohol???  And last year, attempting to play Rock Band 2 was a blast. And I sincerely mean I attempted.  Not succeeded.  I also enjoyed the year I had a youth group lock in going on overnight...well except for the crockpot of sloppy joe that had spilled in my car on the way to the church....I guess if I were to choose, the BEST NY Eve I've ever had was in Vermont.  Being with family, watching the candlelight skiiers come down the mountain, a crackling fire, too much to eat and a game of Scrabble where my nephews I think, were shocked into realizing I was not quite the aunt they thought.  And I'm pretty sure they even still like me!  Ranking right up there with the Vermont experience was the New Year's Eve we spent in San Francisco - which was the kickoff of our honeymoon. It was an exhausting day of travel, followed by hassling with the hotel clerk, we fell dead asleep across the hotel bed.  We woke up to the sound of fireworks being set off over by the Golden Gate Bridge- which, although we couldn't see firsthand, had a gorgeous reflection of them in the windows of the neighboring hotel.....breathtaking.

So that's about the sum total of New Year's Eves that I've enjoyed. 

The one year I did get to go to a club downtown for the big buffet and dancing, I had a temp of over 102.  But dang it, we weren't going to waste those tickets!  So the ex-hubby (he wasn't the ex at the time, just in case you were wondering)  dragged me along with his sister and her husband to have a grand New Year's celebration! Oh it was grand, let me tell you - especially getting home in time to bow before the porcelain goddess.

In recent years, it's mostly sitting around, feeling like I should be doing something special....not feeling like anything special....feeling like I should stay up til midnight....not really wanting to....

 I would love to do First Night but
 1.  it's not something I want to do alone.
 2.  I hate to be cold (and many years, let's face it - it's been more frigid than the Queen Mother out there) and I still haven't managed to get myself any Under Armour.  Then there are the years like this one, when it is so temperate, those ice sculptures are just not gonna make it.
3.  I don't have any little kiddies to take down to the events to be awestruck....and frankly I don't find everyone else's kids nearly as cute as they do.  So I'm awful- I'll admit it.
4.  Everything that used to be free now needs that darn button - it's a matter of principle.  Nor do I want to pay 5 bucks for a cup of hot chocolate.
5. Seems like if you don't have kids, or romance, First Night is not the place you wanna be.
6.  There is a matter of family principle that causes me to stay away....won't go into it here but it has to do with the origin of First Night in State College.  Just don't feel right partaking.

This year we have been invited to 2 different parties.  I'm absolutely amazed. Most years, my kids have been invited to more parties than I....even if they were only invited to 1.

I'm trying to think of what my ideal for this night would be....can't come up with it.   I used to dream of wearing a slinky black dress to some swanky affair....with unforgettable hors d'ouvres, spectacular entertainment, the love of my life by my side and dazzling fun for an entire evening.

 Now I'm thinking that the year we rented Fievel Goes West and had a "party" (chips and soda) with Chris, who was 2 at the time might have been more of a night to remember.  My pjs weren't slinky but they bring back a warm fuzzy memory.

Don't misunderstand....I do have some hopes and dream....and friends for whom I am sincerely praying this New Year brings peace, happiness, prosperity....I am not a complete curmudgeon (though I am being trained by the best)....

So tomorrow I will probably post something profound of letting go of the old year....and decade....and what I hope to embrace in the new.... but if I were to do that right now I would either need dramamine....or insulin.  So I'll just get back to making my chicken-broccoli picnic breads for the aforementioned parties and see if I can find anything to wear.