December 31, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. New Year's Eve.

In my opinion,  on New Year's Eve, the best place to be is at home with your family.  Many people like to attend a party.  For instance, our yacht club is holding a dinner and dance.  It will be well attended, but we declined the invitation.  Over the last 65 years of attending events on New Year's Eve,  my observation was that people seem to be working too hard to have a good time.  The frivolity seemed forced, so we stopped going to big parties.

I like to have dinner with friends on New Year's Eve too.  But tonight, Ken and I have stayed home alone and we are enjoying our own company.  Christina and the girls are at home.   Molly has gone to bed already and Mary Frances is not feeling well so is in bed, so Kate and Christina will watch the ball  drop in Times Square and then go to bed themselves.    All day it has rained so it is dark and damp which gives you no inclination to go outdoors.

Many years ago, when the year turned 1965, Ken and I were driving to Big Bend in west Texas.  As we drove west along all those miles, we heard each time zone change to the new year.  We listened to the festivities before the midnight hour and we heard the singing many times.   We can still recall gleefully celebrating the New Year many times, all when driving in our new big Ford.  But now we are old and enjoy staying home.    Tomorrow we will celebrate the New Year with the family for Brunch at the Little Saigon.    Then we will wish them all a Happy New Year.  But tonight, for us, we are happy to be home.