Happy 2008!

Happy 2008!

Every year it seems that I am more thankful just to be alive! I am not sure exactly why since my life is soo boring, but still, watching the tape-delayed ball drop in Time's Square and actually seeing my clock change to midnight, made me feel good. I had been at a get-together and it broke up early so I was alone at the actual point when that imaginary line swept past my place ushering in the New Year.

I remember the last New Year with my ex-wife. We went to bed early and I set the alarm to go off just before midnight. It rang, we kissed, and we rolled over and went back to sleep. It was exciting. Ha-ha.

Talk about exciting, there was one year that New Years Eve was especially memorable. It was back in 1977 when my first wife and I hosted a Toga Party. It was great! There was a blizzard and Katie and I were sure no one would show up. We were very happily wrong! Everybody came and they brought friends. We had tons of food and drink. I must say that it was possibly the most fun I ever had at a party in my life.

We planned months in advance so no one would have an excuse not to come. And we only had one rule; you absolutely, positively had to wear a toga or you weren't getting in! And when people started arriving it was great! Off the gloves, scarves, coats, hats, and whatever winter gear came and underneath nothing but togas! Most people just used the sheets off their beds and most people didn't have underwear. How's that for authenticity?! A few people, because they were shy or thought they could get away without the toga were ushered into a bedroom where we put whatever clean sheets we had on them. Not one person refused so no one was sent away. We danced and partied all night and into the wee hours until most of us found a place to curl up and get a little sleep.

The wind blew and howled all night but no one noticed until late the next morning when we looked out and could not see our cars! I can't remember the exact total but, with all the drifting, it could have been measured in feet rather than inches. One of our neighbors, a good friend of ours, was the son of a funeral director. They lived above the funeral home next door. They had a jeep with a plow, so he went and got it. Our house was next to a lake, at the bottom of a driveway, down a long hill. While he plowed the driveway, the whole gang poured outside to clean off everyone's cars. We were throwing snow, slipping, sliding and laughing for a couple more hours. At some point we got everyone out on the road. Most cars needed one kind of help or another to get out.

My wife and I took a long hot shower together and slipped into bed for about eighteen hours. I smiled for about a week after that. I'm certain that anyone who was there that night will never forget it!

But honestly, I am just happy to be here, and it is my fondest wish that you and yours have a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

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