by Margaret Radisich Sleasman

Created on: December 31, 2009   Last Updated: August 07, 2011

I can almost remember when I could stay up past midnight and bring in the New Year.  Hubby and I would go with friends to the Sportsman's Club all decked out in our fancy duds (he would drink, I would eat – but both would dance) to celebrate.  How quickly those days passed.  Now he is asleep by 7 pm and I barely make it until 9 to watch the ball drop in  New York.  Since I live on the Pacific Coast, my midnight has been 9 pm, but now I can barely make it past 8.  Gone are the days of New Year's Eve celebrations for us; but hubby does not have to endure the next-day hangovers and my nagging “I told you not to drink so much,” so it is for the best.

Now I listen to the TV announcers asking us to celebrate with them at the magic hour; I look at the crowds that have gathered and wonder how anyone can stay up late enough to celebrate – don't they have homes and beds and why are they not using common sense and sleeping?  Such is the life of the generation that wakes up at 3 or 4 am unable to get another wink.  I tell hubby that if he would stay up later at night, he would be able to sleep longer in the morning, but he says that he will compensate by taking a nap after breakfast – and after lunch – and mid afternoon, then he is still ready to fall asleep after dinner.  No staying up for him and I am approaching his train of thought at the speed of light.  It seems our bodies no longer have any party plans even though our minds would like to join the fun (or at least we would if it was celebrated at noon).

I think this New Year's celebration will be a milestone for us because we are still alive, and that is quite an accomplishment in itself.  In the morning we can watch the news and see the ball drop, I am sure it will be played over and over and we will see all the young New Yorkers screaming, yelling, and wearing 2010 glasses and funny hats on camera.  We will go about our day hang-over free while the young ones spend the day with pillows over their faces vowing to never drink again.  I will cook something to celebrate New Year's Day and we will eat and say “Happy New Year” to each other. Maybe we know how to celebrate after all.

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