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!!!
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