Tonight there will be 20 people at our house for New Year's Eve and this will continue a tradition that we have carried on for the past 12 years. We will be entertaining friends who would otherwise not go out for New Year's. We called it the Geriatric New Year's Eve Party in the past when the youngest person there was 55 and the ages went up to 90!
12 years ago we started out by asking one couple to come and spend a quiet New Years Eve with us in our new home. We then realized that their mother and father would be home that night and we asked them to join us. Then we heard of an elderly couple who had some health problems and knowing that they would also be home alone on New Year's Eve, we asked them to come to spend the evening with us. The idea spread and in our first celebration we had 12 guests who would have spent New Year's Eve at home by themselves. There was good food, good conversation, a nice generational interchange, a toast at midnight and then, pretty quickly, the party broke up and everyone headed for home.
But the following year when we were asked by a couple who had been at the first soiree what we were going to do for New Year's Eve, it became clear to us that this was really a much more important event than we had ever imagined. Our little "party" gave people who spend a great deal of time at home, a chance to get dressed up and get out. And, thus the annual New Year's Eve Party was born. Over the years, some members of the original gathering have passed on, but the widows and widowers who are left remain an important part of our guest list and they relish a chance to do something social again.
This year the age range will spread from 6 months to 87 years. We have a new widower among the guests. We have a young couple with a little baby who now have a different perspective on "partying". The guest list varies from year to year, but the constant thread that runs through the evening is the desire to bring people, who would otherwise have just another lonely night, together for fun and friendship.
So I am busily preparing food for our buffet table, but I wanted to take the time to wish all of you a Happy New Year!!
About Me
- Carolyn
- St. Louis, MO, United States
- What the name sez, Christian, conservative, 2nd amendment supporter. Physician, wife, daughter and loving mother.
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I love that you do this-what fun! This year we are having our first (but I HOPE first of many) NY’s party that is going to start with the opposite (sort of) thought in mind-both of my girls are teenagers and last year we had a close call with "inappropriate" plans almost being hatched, which frankly lead to some sour feelings on all sides. (My kids always teaze I should have been a detective as I have a knack for often finding out plans, and I have teenagers that always seems to want to push the limits) This year I have offered to have an appropriate New Year’s party for several teens (mine included) and a few adults that also would otherwise stay at home. We are having TON 'O GAMES and super bad food-no booze for the under age. (and frankly little booze for all, we just don't really drink)I think it will be fun as we are quite loud and rowdy for such a small family and the youth should just make it that much better. I hope your annual party is as fun as you want it to be and I hope ours is too.
ReplyDeleteIf we get too loud, just give me a call :)
It sounds like a nice party! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteMichelle---We will definitely let you know if you get so loud that we can hear you!
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you will have your kids and their friends with you at the New Year. That is the concept that some cities have taken for First Night celebrations where it is family friendly, booze free and open to all so that the whole family can celebrate together.
We have just enough Asti for everyone to have one glass for midnight toasts and Sparkling grape juice for the ones who prefer no alcohol, but that is the extent of our booze...don't want anyone to fall and break a hip ;-). Also no one lives farther than 3 miles from our house, so the travel isn't far and some of the older guests actually come with younger guests (don't drive at night any more). These seniors on the list are all able bodied and live in their own homes, but we know that they are not at the top of everyone's guest list for a rockin' New Year's Eve party---if you only knew how spunky these guys and gals can be when you give them a chance!!!
We will also visit Time Square by the wonders of either TV or my laptop and watch the ball drop but we will be cozy and warm while the revelers freeze in NYC!
Have a wonderful party and be sure that you make lots of noise!
Happy 2009!!! Your house sounds like an amazing place to be on New Year's Eve
ReplyDeleteCarolyn you are such a giving person, I know there's a lot of them out there. I really miss the get togethers my crew had in Wyoming during the holidays. While Reading the blog, the warmth of the decorations and the fire in the fireplace and the odors of the food coming from the kitchen...not knowing very many folks out here as yet, I miss the laughter and hugs of the partier's. Your'e a very lucky lady. We snuggled into our bed with our hot chocolate and telephone and starting about 11:30 started calling everyone to wish them a Happy New Year. And a Happy New Year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete