Pages

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Another Missed Ball

Gilberto and I haven't stayed up to see the actual beginning of the New Year for exactly six years.

Before that we were young and carefree and did New Year's Eve the way it's supposed to be done. Especially Gilberto. New Year's Eve in Brasil is a big deal. In Santos, where Gilberto grew up, millions of people gather on the beach to drink and jump the waves. They also put a LOT of thought into what color of underwear to don for the night's festivities, depending on what they want out of the coming year. I love that tradition.

So six years ago Gilberto and I were still young and carefree and dating, and it was our first New Year's Eve together. We went to a black tie party at the Hilton in La Jolla. All you can drink. We danced so hard I ended up flinging everything in my purse around the dance floor. Which of course I didn't notice until we were ready to leave. I then spent a good 10 minutes wandering around looking down at people's dancing feet. I didn't find my license (or the expensive lipstick I used to buy before I had real responsibilities), but I did find a twenty dollar bill. Which we used to buy more alcohol.

Unknown to us, it was our last hurrah.

The next year I was married and pregnant, and I believe we were curled up in bed by 8:00. It was something we laughed about at the time, not realizing that it was going to be like that every year after. That we'd never see the ball drop again. That we'd be so tired we'd sleep through all the fireworks and noisemakers that our neighborhood sets off at midnight.

So is the life of parents with small children.

We didn't plan anything differently for this year (we know better by now), but a few days ago my boss gave me a really nice bottle of champagne and some fancy nuts to bring in the New Year with. I ate the nuts for lunch the same day, but the champagne made Gilberto and I think that maybe this year would be our year to get back into the fun party groove. Not that we had grandiose plans to actually leave our house. We decided to go out for a nice dinner and then drink it up at home. And to stay up until midnight.

Dinner started out nice enough at our favorite sushi restaurant, but then the drunk couple next to us started to get really really loud (ah, Saki bombs, how I miss you). The woman, dressed in a super tight sequined dress that her boobs were trying to explode out of, kept saying things like, "I said HEMORRHOIDS, not human droids!" And, "Nope, no boots. When I fight, I fight clean. I wear tennis shoes."

While we were there we were worried that they'd say something inappropriate that Gabi would hear, but now that we made it back home without any explaining to do, it's actually pretty amusing.

So dinner's done, and now we're too full to drink the champagne. My eyes are already drooping, and we both know we're not going to make it to midnight. Just as well. I have some orange juice in the fridge, and I think a much better way to celebrate the New Year is with mimosas for breakfast!

I'll probably wimp out when it comes down to it, but it's a lovely thought.

Happy New Year!

18 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you Laural!
    I am so glad you were able to have a night out.
    Sorry you missed the ball.
    I saw it, but it fell the same as every other year.
    I should have gone to bed too.
    So you never shared with us what color underwear you wore last night....or the significance.
    Don't leave us in suspense like that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. At least you went out to dinner. :) We don't ever do anything exciting either. In fact, Pat was out of town and didn't make it home until 10 minutes after the ball dropped. Oh well! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy New Year to your and yours from me and mine! We went over to a friend's house last night and were back home by 9:00, cleaned up the kitchen, and watched episodes of Lost. TOTALLY missed midnight as we were both sound asleep in front of the TV. Yes indeed...we live on the wild side.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Have a happy one anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy New Year friend!!!

    At least you went out to dinner. I did absolutely. nothing. It was sad...maybe bordering pathetic.

    And you know what?? Im STILL in bed. Yup, it's 10:43 and I am still here. On New Years Day. And I don't really want to move. So I dont think I will!!

    Hope that 2009 brings everything you and your family desire!! Happy New Year!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, so true, so true. We stayed up for the first time in years last night. At home, no alchohol. I am so tired right now!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy New Year Laural!! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year! I feel so much better to know it's not just us that can't--and don't even try--to make it to midnight anymore. ;)

    We went out for a really nice dinner in La Jolla...at 5:45. With a 4-year-old. Actually, it went pretty well, and after a walk and a visit to the candy store, we were home by 9:30! Whee! (And secretly I don't really mind.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. LOL...we just refuse to grow up, I guess! Up until the past few years, we have just invited friends over (who also had kids the same age as ours) and pop tons of fireworks we bought wholesale off a guy Hot Rod knows - always a big finale at midnight. It's like a battle of the streets in our neighborhood.

    Now we've got a couple that we're close with who have children the same ages as ours ('cept Carter) and we go to their house. The kids put on their jammies and watch movies 'till they drop and the adults play cards. Last night, (or rather this morning) we headed for home at 3:30 AM. YIKES!!! One of my favorite times of year...

    Happy New Year, my new friend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy New Year! I too have slept through many new year's eves...I don't think you missed much!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy New Year! Glad you managed a nice dinner out and that it wasn't Denny's.
    We too have fallen victim to the mostly eventless New Year's Eve. We used to have a big party at our house and then three years ago we were frantically making "the party is cancelled" calls on the way to the hospital on New Year's Eve because I was in labor. Since then we have a few people over and keep it much less lively. We have added birthday cake to the party though.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy New Year!

    For the past few years, we've gone out to eat (@ a Japanese steakhouse!) with my husband's two brothers and their families. Then we all meet back at my BIL & SIL's house... the kids play together while the adults play games like Scene It? and Outburst.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was actually awake at midnight...though I didn't WANT to be! I took a nap on New Years Eve, and that sealed the deal - I didn't fall asleep until 12:30, and the little man woke up at 1. Oh well - I got to hear my neighbors light off firecrackers, from my cozy hiding place under my covers.

    Here's to cozy, non-drunk, baby-snugglin' new years!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. When we were kids we were excluded in all NYE events. Our kiddos are so lucky, sushi or not.

    Sounds like you NYE was just great, early but still great ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bryan and I don't even have kids yet and we just don't have the energy anymore. We stayed in this time to. I went to bed before mid night, couldn't wait, was to tired.
    Plus, New Year nights in Tucson are not fun. I just miss New Year's in Guaruja, Santos...everything happens exactly like you said!
    I posted a link in the end of my recent post of a crowded beach in Guaruja... I had forgoten how busy and crowded Guaruja and Santos get this time of the year!

    By the way,

    HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family Laural!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy New Year!!

    We´ve been by the beach for the past 5 years and this year we stayed at home!!!

    I missed the jumping waves.

    Fabiola

    ReplyDelete
  17. I take the easy way out.... due to a long time living on the east coast, I still celebrate with them. So we went to bed after the ball dropped east coast time. ;)

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.