BEST NEW YEAR’S EVE EVER

I have celebrated many New Year’s eves. Some out. Most at house parties at either my home or that of a friend. I learned early in life that New Year’s eve was amateur night and so avoided public places.

My best New Year’s eve was one I spent alone with my father. We were at my Utica home. Earlier we had enjoyed a huge meal with the family. Everyone was out partying after dinner.

That year had not been a good one health wise for my father. This was 15 plus years ago. He would have been around 83. I suspected it would be Dad’s last New Year’s eve. He would not make it through the new year.

He surprised us all! He passed on two years ago at the age of 98.

I wanted to be with him. I wanted to be alone with him.

Everyone had left by 10. I suggested we sit and enjoy a drink before he went home. We were there till one in the morning.

We sat in front of the fire in two wing backs facing each other. Dad rarely drank. I convinced him to have one. He sipped it for three hours.

We talked about everything. My mother, of course. She had been gone a number of years by then. The conversation moved pleasantly along. At midnight, we hugged and kissed and said I love you to each other.

The memory of the evening has never left me. The time with Dad an intimacy difficult to repeat any time with any one.

My plans for last night were flexible. Stay home or go out for a couple of drinks.

Syracuse was playing Cornell at 6. I wanted to watch the game. I did, from home. I intended to go out afterwards. I was alone. Don’s Place and the Chart Room for a drink or two with friends. Then home and in bed well before midnight.

Syracuse won handily. The team is developing. It has developed big time in the past three weeks. Tournament play begins saturday. What will be, will be.

The game was over at 8. Time to shower again, get dressed and be on my way. Too much work, I thought. I ended up staying home. Poured myself a drink and watched a bit more of TV. At 9, I went to bed. Was asleep soon thereafter. Woke just before one. In time to catch the reruns of New Year’s eve all over the world.

Such an exciting life!

Enjoy this New Year’s day!

BOCCE…..WE FALTERED

There is a line in Peter Pan…..Dreams do come true. I don’t know.

All week my bocce team has been hyped about playing last night. We had come back from nothing by winning 8 of the last 9 games. We could be heading for the playoffs. We needed to win 4 of the last 6 games of the season.

We played three of those games last night. Against a team that had lost 9 straight.

They done us in! We lost 2 of the 3 games. Which means we have to win all 3 next week.

I was surprised at last night’s result. We were geared up and ready to play. Confident. It was kill time. We got killed!

I spent all of the day yesterday writing next week’s column for KONK Life. It is titled Misuse of Little Ones. The abduction of the 300 girls in Nigeria, coupled with the crucifixions and beheadings, including children, in Nigeria and Syria, motivated the article.

Yesterday was the 69th anniversary of VE-Day. Victory in Europe. The was against Germany was over.

I was ten years old at the time. The event sticks in my mind as if it were yesterday.

The news first came over the radio. No TV in those days. People rejoiced. They stood on their porches banging spoons against pots and pans. They cried. They yelled words of joy to each other. The streets flooded with people. Everyone crying. Everyone kissing.

There have been several wars since. I can recall no such rejoicing when each ended.

Speaking of anniversaries, today is the second anniversary of my Father’s death. He left us on May 9, 2012. He would have been 100 years old today. He had a good life. The second half was better than the first. I loved him and miss him.

Enjoy your day!