The Evolution of New Year's Eve Celebrations

"Mr New Year" Himself

Guy Lombardo's Final New Year's Eve Performance

1976-->1977

Recently, I was reflecting on how my New Year's Eve celebrations have evolved through my lifetime. Having to go to bed before midnight--> Getting to stay up only to find the most exciting thing that happened at midnight was Guy Lombardo playing "Auld Lang Syne" on the television --> Excitement over Dick Clark's first New Year's Rockin' Eve --> Hanging out with friends or going to the bowling alley --> College New Year's Eve at clubs with live bands, dancing and a kiss at midnight --> New Year's Eve with kids and all their friends over to spend the night; banging on pots & pans at midnight--> Watching a movie on TV until time to watch the ball drop --> Having to go to bed before midnight! 

So... I decided to ask Aunt Grace how HER New Year's Eves have evolved through the years! 

Her first recollection was New Year's Eve celebrations at the Federated Church in Oswego. Everyone got together to visit and play games through the evening and then when midnight arrived they would ring the church bell to welcome the New Year!

The REAL celebration, however, came on New Year's Day. (Perhaps read that sentence with a bit of sarcasm) It was her friend, Della Reppy's birthday and they would get together, go over to the cemetery and walk around!!! That was a fairly common pastime for Grace; she'd do that so often that, even though she didn't know anyone buried there, she could tell you exactly where everyone was buried!

Fast forward a few years to New Year's Eve 1945-'46. Grace was married now and she and Uncle Austin spent the evening going to a show at the Tivoli Theater in Aurora with some friends and then back to the friends' house to play some "500." It was a cold, snowy night and the friends wanted Grace & Austin to stay the night, but they decided to head home; even though they had to use the friend's tractor to get their car started because it was SO COLD!!!

Moving ahead a few more years to when the kids had arrived and were a little older, the Pope household became a bit more celebratory. Each of the girls was allowed to have a friend over to spend the night to celebrate with games, food and friendship. One year had an extended celebration after an incredible ice storm resulted in the friends all staying for 2-3 nights!!! That apparently worked out just fine, though, as the "celebration" extended to include ice skating followed by hot chocolate!

After becoming empty-nesters, the celebrations took on a different air as Grace & Austin began going out with several friends in a group. 8-10 couples from church would get together for an overnight trip to see various shows in neighboring states. She recalls going to Indiana a few times and Milwaukee. One of her favorite ones seems to be when they got to see the Oak Ridge Boys. She recalls one time that wasn't so much fun. They went to a stand-up comedy show and, as is often the case, the comedian could get pretty raunchy. They considered leaving, but soon became aware that whenever anyone got up to leave, the "comedian" zeroed in on them and began making jokes and making fun of whoever was leaving. Not wanting to be singled out, they chose to suck it up and stay! She didn't say, but I get the feeling she probably hasn't seen much stand-up comedy since that New Year's Eve! 

So, what's in store for Aunt Grace this New Year's Eve? Probably the same thing in store for many of us who are on the other side of sixty! She says that IF she's still awake, she'll have the TV on to see the ball drop. But, if she's tired, she'll head on to bed, cuddle under the blankets and greet the New Year with her eyes closed!

Wishing you all a blessed, healthy Happy New Year!!!

Guy Lombardo's "Auld Lang Syne"

Memories of Dad: The Ups and The Downs

 Today, I had an absolutely WONDERFUL visit with Aunt Grace! She had Nan, Jeanine and I laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. So, what was she saying that was so humorous? Let me share, while the thoughts are still fresh in my mind!

A few weeks  ago, I assigned Aunt Grace some "homework" for our next chat. Her assignment? Think of two memories about your parents that really stand out in your mind; one the best memory, the other the worst memory. Well, she didn't disappoint and actually provided a few bonus memories! You all know Aunt Grace, so please try to picture her telling these stories. How I wish I could duplicate the inflection in her words and the expressions on her face! Priceless!!! I'll leave it to you to decide which of these memories are "best" and which are "worst," but even ones that started out good had some unexpected twists!

Memory #1: Grandpa's Treats

Grandma didn't go to the grocery store; Grandpa did. Whenever he went to the A&P store in Yorkville (or the Red Front Store, as he called it) he always bought Circus Peanuts and Marshmallow cookies (Kind of a graham crackery crust topped with a molded marshmallow). Sometimes, he would take Grace and Marge along to the store. Other times, they would watch for him to come home and run down the lane to meet him driving up in the Model T Ford. Grandpa would let the girls hop up onto the running board of the car and ride the rest of the way to the house that way. Oddly enough, she doesn't remember that there was anything to hang on to!

Marshmallow Cookies with Coconut

Circus Peanuts, an orange-colored marshmallow candy,
 shaped like peanut shells and is usually banana-flavored.

Memory #2: Time for Talks & Adventures!

As Grace got older and Ray was gone, she took over driving Grandpa whenever and wherever he needed to go. These times always gave her an opportunity to have some good talks with her dad, but they were also apparently times of great adventure! She remembers one time, as they were getting ready for the auction sale in February of '44, Grandpa needed to go meet with the auctioneer. So, one day late in '43, they set out in the '37 Dodge to go find him. Ordinarily, you wouldn't think that would create much of an adventure, except Grandpa NEVER had a map and all they knew was they were looking for a farm with a white barn! They drove 'round and 'round; up and down roads and laneways! To add to the adventure, Grandpa didn't believe in filling up the tank with gas; just a dollar here or there!!! She knows they were running on fumes by the time they reached their destination!

Memory #3: More Adventure with Cattle Sales

Grandpa apparently loved going to the Cattle Sales in Bristol, Illinois. It didn't particularly matter if  he needed to buy or sell any, it was just his thing. He liked going to the sales. So, about twice a month, he'd get his chauffeur (Grace), and away they'd go! More time to spend with her dad for some good talks, but it sounds like the adventure was always the greatest if there was a calf to sell! They'd just hoist that calf into the trunk of the car and away they'd go! I questioned Aunt Grace as to how they were able to keep the calf in the trunk of the car; surely they couldn't close the trunk with a calf in there, right? Well, they just tied the poor little critter's legs together!!! It was usually okay, but sometimes that calf would mess before they got to the sale, meaning there was a rather unpleasant job to attend to after getting back home!

Memory #4: On the Road Again!

Another memory involving that Model T Ford! In this one, Aunt Grace and Aunt Marge were still little girls. They were on their  way to Downer's Grove to pick up Grandma who had spent the previous night at Aunt Frieda's house before going to her Ladies' Aid meeting that day. They were driving down Maple Street between Naperville and Downers' Grove about 7:30-8 in the evening when that old Model T lost a wheel!!! Aunt Grace remembers being scared, worrying how they were going to get back home while she and Aunt Marge cried. Grandpa pulled off to the side of the road, got out of the car, chased that wheel about a half block down the road, brought it back and put it back on the car!  She couldn't really say why the wheel would have fallen off or how he got it back on by himself, reminding us that he was no mechanic, but he got the job done well enough to pick up Grandma and get them all back home. I don't know about all of you, but I know I'd have had a good chuckle if I'd been watching my dad chasing a wheel down the road! It was certainly fun listening to Aunt Grace's account of the event today!

Memory #5: A Glimpse of Grandpa's Temper

It was a Staffeldt Family Reunion being held at the farm in Oswego with about 70-80 people attending. Farm chores don't stop just because it's a family day, so Frank and Alvin left the rest of their family at the reunion to run home and do the chores saying they'd be back to get the family afterward. Well, they didn't come back and they didn't come back. Instead they went for a drink! Grandpa was getting increasingly angrier as they waited for the two to return. When they finally returned, around 8:30-9, Grandpa was angrier than Grace had probably ever seen him and Frank was quickly acquainted with his wrath!

Memory #6: The Shoe Drop

Grandma was gone to Downer's Grove and the cooking responsibilities fell to Aunt Grace. She was sleeping in the front bedroom upstairs and as Grandpa was heading to the barn to milk the cows, he called upstairs to wake Grace so she would have his breakfast ready when he came back into the house. She responded and then reached to get her shoes and dropped them on the floor, so Grandpa would believe she was up. But, she didn't get up! She went back to sleep. She was awakened awhile later as he nudged her foot and then was swinging at her while giving her a few of his choicest words! She didn't remember him ever coming up the stairs before, but he certainly made it up the stairs that morning!

I hope that as you've read these accountings of Aunt Grace's memories of her dad, you've been able to hear her voice in your head; to hear the humor or the dismay as she recounted her thoughts and emotions of these situations! I also hope that these small memories might help you to realize how interesting/ important your smallest memories might be for your children or grandchildren one day.

"My Dad" by Paul Petersen

The Donna Reed Show 1962