Traditionally, we always had boiled shrimp on New Year's, along with a a steak dinner. My parents would let us stay up and sip ginger ale (in lieu of champagne), and watch the ball drop at midnight. Then we were hustled off to bed...and my folks would turn off the TV, and turn on the old records, and slow dance in the living room. Every New Year's was some kind of anniversary for them.

I've been doing better, and able to plan ahead more effectively, so I've been making small amounts of appetizers, serving chilled prosecco at midnight, and husband and myself have a small, quiet night in. We used to attend a good friend's house party every year, but his sudden passing, along with the pandemic, put a permanent stop to that.

This year, thankfully, we noticed there were no fireworks, for the first time in a very long time. It was lovely.