Personal Traditions and Reflections on Past New Year's Eve

I've never been one to celebrate new year's eve with a bang. When I wanted too, I was always a day late and a dollar short, due to literally working my way out of no friends to call on for celebration – till the next day. However, by the time I would connect with friends, I was already in Virginia Beach, continuing to relax on Virginia Beach boulevard, then eating at Denny's.

It seemed important to create a tradition that I could reflect back on later down the line to appreciate. Not to mention two things, (1) how many people are up at that early on New Year's Day, in the cold death grip of winter and wind? (2) There is an old saying that whatever you do on New Year's Day, you will be doing for the year.

The Personal Tradition

The New Year's Day two-hour travel (because I pay attention to the speed limit), became the norm for three years. After early morning work, there was time to get to the beach and enjoy how I was ringing in the New Year.

Braving the cold windy air, walking up the to shoreline was like a rite of passage, the thoughts are remembered clearly, <Deep happy sigh> I'm here another year! What is my one big wish?” After going through all the things I would think I wanted, I would decided on the wish. After making the wish, I would reach down to the water for a touch (saying thank you) and hurry back to the car. The rest is history at a little place called Denny's.

And yes, all my wishes for the new year did come true.

Changes Began In 2008

Late 2007 my husband and I married. He knew about my trips to Virginia Beach since we had been friends for a long while. Since before we were married, I was no longer working my early morning job. On New Year's Eve 2007, we stayed up to ring in the New Year, promptly following – the bed was our best friend. What I didn't know was he had set the alarm for about 4 A.M.

As the blare of the alarm startled me out of bed, I rolled over turned it off and snuggled back under the covers. My husband though was jumping out of bed and turning off the other alarm across the room that began to go off. As he came over to my side of the bed, all I heard was, “there's no need to stop the tradition now.”

It took everything I had for gaining the strength to get up, dressed, and brave the cold. It was all worth it though for New Year's Day 2008.

We stood on Virginia Beach together, gazing at the sun, braving the cold, wind, and pushing the tired feeling off to the side for those moments. The picture of that sunrise is back home in storage with everything else not sold, but I still remember it being the deepest orange I ever saw, and a halo yellow beginning to shimmer.

After that precious moment, breakfast at Denny's, with several cups of coffee. We got a to go bag for the dog, and feed it to her in the car.

New Year's 2012

The celebration for this New Year's Eve will be resting and relaxing in our new place here in northern California. With the weather being rainy, and not knowing the lay of the land well (yet), we are playing it safe.

A meal called “Hoppin' Johns” will be fixed up for our delightful continuation of new traditions. Who knows what else with a variety of options to travel around to for sight-seeing. It'll be interesting since everything to get here has been unconventional.

Happy New Year to All!