New Year’s Eve. A day I usually spend remembering my grandparents. This year wasn’t really any different. Flashbacks to all of the cousins aunts and uncles, grandma’s siblings - our great aunts and uncles, extended family, sometimes neighbors all gathered at my grandma’s party. Card tables set up everywhere with lively games of pitch happening. Accusations of cheating, and occasionally actual cheating, all with lively banter accompanying a variety of drinks ranging from beer to Dr Pepper to grandma’s famous brandy slush. Being 16 and feeling special because you were allowed a glass (just one). Being 10 and learning to play beer pong using Dr Pepper. Being 12 and finally being allowed into the adults table of pitch. Being 8 and making confetti for hours waiting for the ball to drop while listening to Dick Clark’s rocking New Year’s Eve on the console tv. Laughing about my grandpa sleeping in his recliner through all of it. All of it flashing back. Happy memories of a childhood that I never realized was so blessed until I was much older. And longing for just one more night like that, yet knowing it isn’t possible. And then over compensating by making an unreasonable amount of food and having whoever wants to come over and hang out here. Jim actually walked into the kitchen where I was making said food and asked me “how many people did you invite?” When I said I thought just the girls were coming he smiled and walked away with a handful of goodies. He knows. He knows that I am going to do this, and nothing he says that is reasonable and sane will reign me in. So he just eats the snacks, drinks the (apparently disgusting) beer that we picked out for him, and watches some newer version of Dick Clark that isn’t quite the same and yet, seems perfect for where we are in life. And I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. To be married to a man who lost get it. Who rides the insanity without letting it bother him too much. He’s a real “gem”.
Not inly dod we have all the snack, I also got party supplies.
My only regret is that I didn’t buy more confetti cannons. Worth every dime. Confetti cannons are awesome!
2025 looking back was easy to say wasn’t our best year. I spent a whole lot of it being upset about things going on in this country. Some would say I pay too much attention to politics and current events. And they might be right, however it is hard not to pay attention when things are in such a mess. Adding in the loss of Eric and I’d say this year sucked rocks. But then I look at the photos of Colin’s wedding, recalling the happiness and excitement of that day. Adding a daughter to our family who we love so much. And then having that daughter give us our first grandson. I can’t say the whole year was bad. As a matter of fact, we have been very blessed with some sadness and disappointment thrown in. And as much as I wish I could take the sad parts and erase them, it’s not possible.
I am welcoming 2026 in with open arms. Hoping and praying for a year with less loss, more love, better days and all of the family, food, celebrations, and happiness we can pack in!
We are making our own traditions. Grandkids spending New Year’s Eve crashed out here. Building a new generation of games and food and slumber parties and all the things that they will hopefully look back on with love and fondness and good memories. My heart is happy.
