My New Year's Eve plan was to open a bottle of chilled champagne given to me as a Christmas gift and finish reading Dean Koontz's latest novel, "Odd Thomas". At midnight I would toast the New Year in with my three young adult children and our traditional frosty glasses of sparkling apple juice then go back to my book or my bed! I do not as a rule drink. Not because I’m a latent prohibitionist but because it usually puts me to sleep! I mentioned the gift champagne and change of habit to my children and as a surprise they bought me a case (4 small bottles) of Smirnoff’s Ice Lemonade, which is some sort of alcoholic drink. So my plan to relax and have a quiet evening with a good book was in place. New Year’s Eve day started much the same as any workday: up at 6pm, grab some coffee and hit the door running to catch the subway to the train station. My traveling companion on this daily workout is my youngest child Heather. Time was when I had to wake her up in the morning, fix her breakfast and get her off to school. Time has an ironic way of changing things as years go by. My part time college student, part time co-worker now quietly comes into my bedroom on many a morning to nudge me awake and remind me I have to get up and go to school, uh, work! She is also there in the kitchen to advise me that drinking Coca-Cola in the morning isn’t considered a nutritious breakfast and won’t be found on any of the proper food groups. Hah! Little does she know!
Our walk to the subway station was uneventful. The strange but well-dressed elderly man who mans the corner near our house was out as usual. “Good morning ladies, do you have any money for me?” He always says this as we pass by doffing his hat and bowing slightly. Almost but not quite making us feel like royalty. “Have a nice day!” is our usual rejoinder. Royalty never mentions money that would be tacky. We almost had the subway and train to ourselves. It was quiet at work. So quiet I thought everyone was sleeping. Turns out most of the employees had quietly left by noon. Nothing is as quiet as an employee leaving early! I had permission to close the office at 1pm, did so and Heather and I happily reversed our morning trek, caught the train, then the subway and gleefully headed for home. No force on earth is as fast as the inner child escaping from work! Our feet never touched the ground!

Dinner was a quick call to “Savatore’s” pizza place! Dessert was ice cream waiting in the freezer! As the evening drew nigh I felt too sleepy to drink anything but a strong cup of coffee (I WAS going to see this awful old year out...and wouldn't mind if the door kicked its behind as it was leaving!) My daughter Heather left to celebrate with her boyfriend, my other daughter Tiffany and her husband Bryan were trapped in their house due to the flu so just my son Mark and I were home. We put on a DVD of an old British TV series of Sherlock Holmes circa 1953. It was wonderful, just the two of us enjoying these old vintage movies. I brought out my book to read at the movies close and prepared to enjoy a quiet read. Then just before midnight an explosion occurred just outside my window. Then another, and yet another! It seems my neighbors were having a party that took itself outside! Their children and their guests’ children were setting off firecrackers. The noise scared the cat witless. He made serious tracks running across my hardwood floor and hid himself in the basement! Every car alarm on the block triggered! People were pouring out of their houses singing and dancing in the street. Mayhem reigned! More firecrackers were set off! The party was in full swing until about 3am. Reading was out of the question so was sleeping! Finally the revelers called it a night and went home. At 5am Sleep timidly ventured into the New Year and sunk his weary head on my pillow! Alas, but not for long! Outside a cacophonous sound arose! Louder and closer it came! Oh no! The Mummers, those brilliantly costumed, brightly plumed and loudly playing string band musicians jarred me awake! Oh those “Golden Slippers” thrummed the banjos right outside my window!
Goodbye sleep and Happy New Year!!