The Eve of the New Year

In a very few hours, 2010 will come to an end, and those of us who manage to stay up past midnight, will welcome in the New Year.  I can remember how excited I was, when as a child, I was finally old enough to stay up until midnight.
  
My grandmother and my parents put on quite a spectacle.  There were snacks to enjoy.  We watched celebrations on a black and white TV, and struggled, stubbornly, to stay awake.  As the hands of the clock moved towards midnight, the back door was opened, and the old year was swept out.  I can remember that often some parting words were addressed to the Old Year.  Somehow it always seemed a little sad to say good-bye.


From the back door, we moved to the front door which was flung open with great ado.  Pots and pans were banged and the New was heralded in, with great gusto, to cheers of "Happy New Year!"  It was the one and only time of the year that my brother and I were allowed to be as noisy as we could possibly be....and for that brief period of time, we took full advantage of that fact.  


I am sure that the adults in our home had mixed feelings on that night.  Perhaps they felt sadness at what had transpired over the past year.  Perhaps they were apprehensive about what challenges the new year would bring.  We were too young to fear the future.  We could enjoy the present moment with little thought of yesterday or tomorrow.


And so I end this little dialogue, with a sincere wish for you.  May 2011 be a year of Peace.  May good health and happiness take up permanent residence in both your heart and your home.


Happy New Year!


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
Robert Burns