HappyNewYear2

I was just a sweet young thang the first time I ever saw a Times Square New Year's Eve celebration on television. It looked like such fun and I decided then and there that someday I was going to be in Times Square for New Year's Eve. I didn't want to do it every year, but I did want to experience it... at least once in my lifetime.

Well, many years later, in 1978, I did just that and it was one of the best New Year's Eves I ever had! My guy, who had never been to NYC, and I took the Amtrak train to the city for the weekend, and met up with another couple who we planned to celebrate with. We stayed at the Lexington Hotel, where I enjoyed room service for the very first time, and felt oh, so pampered. The next day was cold, rainy and nasty, but we all went sightseeing anyway. We rode around on the subway, visited the Empire State Building, and took the Staten Island ferry out past the Statue of Liberty. Early that night we met with my brother and his wife, and the six of us made our way down to 42nd and Broadway. Along the way, we equipped ourselves with noisemakers, silly hats, three bottles of champagne, and then laid claim to our spot, right in front of One Times Square. Right across from Dick Clark's rooftop hangout - how lucky was that? We were so close up front, the wooden barricade was our leaning post and we had a running conversation with the police officers on duty. We offered to share our champagne, but of course, they politely declined.

I don't think I ever saw so many people in one place in my life! There were thousands upon thousands of people, jostling for position, hanging off of lamp or sign posts, making merry (or making off with someone else's wallet!) and in general, having a raucous good time. I was there, I was really, really there - living a long-held dream with people I loved and cared about and having the most amazing fun! It was sleety and cold and noisy, noisier than you could ever imagine. As the ball started its downward journey, it got louder and louder as thousands of voices joined the countdown to midnight... 3, 2, 1... and finally erupted into "Happy New Year!" wishes and kisses. We were wet and sloppy and cold, but no one cared. We all just enjoyed the experience and each others company - it was great!!

After the festivities, we moseyed on back to the hotel, singing "Auld Lang Syne" at the top of our voices in the middle of the streets of New York. Searching for something to eat, we found a deli near the hotel, took loads of food back to our room and proceeded to pig out. The only bad thing that happened was my poor brother and his wife still had to go out in the weather and they also missed the last subway back to Mount Vernon. To this day, I don't recall how they got home - I'll have to remember to ask him one of these days.

So now, I watch the celebration each year on TV but I still have the fondest memories of my Times Square adventure. I even still have the cork from our champagne bottle. I highly recommend a Times Square New Year's to everyone - at least once.

HOME BACK E-MAIL

Remember9-11-01