Actually, the first of January never really meant much to me. I think that I have been in school most of my life either as a student or a teacher so my "year" really begins right after Labor Day.
I have gotten past making New Years resolutions - they are just too much pressure and never work anyway and then I feel bad and who wants that!
I can't even remember many New Years celebrations. Only a few stand out. In 1999 (New Years Eve) my niece Krista came for her Make-A-Wish visit. My cousin, who had also been a large part of Krista's cancer journey also joined us, as did my daughter Kate, who lives in Baltimore. We had a lot of fun and a lot of sadness because we did not know how many more New Years Eves Krista had left; we just knew that there would not be many more for her. And, we were all asleep before midnight!
New Years Eve 2003, my husband Lester and I went to the "First Night" celebration in Annapolis. That was pretty cool - lots to do, families out and about, good weather, and we could see the fireworks at midnight from our bed where we were staying. It was a pleasant, low key and friendly welcome to the year.
My granddaughters are visiting and will be here this New Years Eve. And their mom, my daughter Megan and her husband Mike will be joining us. And most likely, everyone but Mike and Lester will be asleep before 2007 arrives.
