With A Whimper

Last year Sara and I rang in the New Year in Chicago, bouncing between several parties. It was fun night filled with friends.This year we opted for a quieter celebration. We went and spent New Years with my father, and spent the night watching a movie. Then on New Years Day we stayed in watched the parade of roses (Did you know the Ohio State School for the Blind has a Marching Band?), some football, and ate black-eyed peas and hog jowl; a family tradition.

Speaking of tradition, this year marks the first year in my memory that there wasn't a New Years open house at my folks' for the January 1st. Mom would work herself in to a frenzy baking, cleaning, and preparing for the party. People would show up and spend the day relaxing at my parents' house. Friends from their college days, old work associates, families we grew up with, church members and more would come by. People that have known me since before I could walk would come by the house to visit.

This year there was no open house. Mom wasn't around to organize everything and the family didn't feel up to handling the planning without her. Dad kept a few six packs in the fridge on the off chance that someone would mistakenly show up this year, but was pretty sure that he had contacted everyone to let them know that the open house was off. No one showed.

So 2010 started off with a simple New Years Eve celebration, New Years Day with family and an allergy attack that slowly escalated over the 1st day of the year. Today I awoke feeling much better, relieved that the holidays are behind us and hopeful that this year will be better than the last. 2009 was an eventful year. It was filled with many accomplishments but much sorrow, and frustration. I for one am glad to see it pass.