The Absent Uncle: New Year’s Eve

Come to think of it, this will be my 74th New Year’s Eve. Next year will be the diamond jubilee. I certainly don’t remember much about the first 10 or so, given my age and the time in the 1950’s.

After that time and since, I can only remember one time when I actually went out for a New Year’s Eve party. I spent New Year’s Eve on an aircraft carrier, but I don’t think that one counts for a real holiday night party. No champagne corks popping as I remember, I think we played cards and tried to figure out when the New Year started where we were from and how the International Dateline really messed with the celebration of holidays in general. 

The only New Year’s party I attended was in the mid 1980’s. I was out of the Navy, attending San Diego State, single and was invited to a get together at a co-worker’s house. To be truly honest, I had a crush on another co-worker that was also invited but quickly found out that crush would be unrequited – oh, well. 

I found myself in the midst of 20 to 30 people, about only 10 I slightly knew. Champagne was flowing, the music loud, the food was (as I think about it today) not so good.   

I thought about leaving, that didn’t seem right, especially before the New Year was rung in with this fabulous party, so, I hung in there. The moment came, it passed, and the music was still loud, the champagne was no longer flowing, and the food – well, it was really picked over and still no better. 

I decided to make my leave and thanked my host for a wonderful evening and was somewhat surprised when asked to transport two couples who needed to leave but were in no condition to drive home.   

I didn’t know any of them, but their destinations were somewhat on my way home, so I loaded them into my old VW bus and we were off.  I was rewarded with an offkey serenade of Auld Lang Syne from my passengers. 

I got them home safely and myself as well. (A bit of cleanup in the bus was necessary the next day.) I never have gotten that whole experience out of my memory. It always jumps out when I think about New Year’s Eve.   

To this day, we are a pretty much a stay-at’home on New Year’s Eve family. Sometimes I make it to the magic hour, most times not, but I do rise early in the New Year celebrating.