The Many Faces of New Year's Eve
New Year’s Eve is upon us. For me, it’s generally the low-key point of the year. I’m not one to make imposing New Year’s resolutions and I have to admit I dislike champagne. My favorite New Year’s nouns are: friends, board game & laughter; verb: snuggle; adjective: cozy; liqueur: Bailey’s; channel: Weather. I just go with the flow on this day - whatever presents itself, that’s what I do.
My worst New Year’s? Probably 1993. I was madly in love, spent a very romantic evening with my fella who, at the stroke of midnight, suggested that we each see other people. Just as my heart and the Big Apple in New York, dropped 100 ft.
Need I say more?
My best New Year’s? Probably 1990. I was visiting my friend Sanna Mansikkaniemi in Hevoniemi, Finland (where are you now, Sanna?), which is a WONDERFUL place to spend Christmas holidays. We had the traditional Finnish New Year’s Eve dinner, complete with pudding, and then we enjoyed a sauna and flagellated ourselves with the traditional broom of leaves and herbs. We ran out to the lake naked and rolled in the snow and then dashed back to the sauna. Very invigorating. And no heartbreak! Finally, we topped off the evening with the traditional (lots of traditions, no?) New Year’s Eve fortune-telling ritual. We melted down some metal (they sell it in the supermarkets there) and poured the liquid into a bucket of ice-cold water. My metal ended up in the shape of a sperm (tadpole, maybe?); I forget what Sanna’s was. The head of Elvis? I have very fond memories of that night.
Do you remember your best New’s Year’s? Your worst? What is your idea of an ideal New Year’s?
This year we’re going to my friend Christine’s to play Pictionary and eat Chinese food.
Bye 2001.
Posted on December 31, 2001 01:07 PM