Several hundred years ago when I was a child (slight exaggeration) we spent quiet New Year's Eves at home. There was always a special dinner - - and later we'd inevitably watch the annual TV show with Guy Lombardo ringing in the new year at the NY Waldorf Astoria. Throughout the night we'd get phone calls from relatives wishing us a happy new year (we lived in California - - most of our relatives were ensconced in New Jersey).
Years later, when I grew into a reasonable facsimile of an adult, I developed a passion for New Year's Eve. I created elaborate celebratory dinners which often took days to prepare. Turkey, duck, sometimes ham - - always herring and salmon, Russian deviled eggs, Hungarian kenyer (bread) and palascinta (potato pancakes), a variety of olives, cheese, and sausages, winter fruit salads, and desserts made from scratch - - cookies, Bavarian chocolate cherry cake with cream, cheesecakes, and a white cake, symbolizing purity. And always caviar and Le Domaine California champagne.
I was annoyingly energetic back then.
I was also admirably frugal. I knew where to buy inexpensive caviar.
What about this present New Year's Eve?
Things have changed drastically and pitifully during the past years. Many of my relatives (and friends) are deceased. Those still living are far away. Two of my cousins died recently.
All I had left were my three cats, and now even they are deceased.
After spending six months in the hospital and physical rehab due to very serious illnesses, I'm finally back home - - my humble abode nestled by the forest. I am crippled, physically weak and mentally ravaged. Haunted by nightmares that might happen and harsh realities that are inevitable.
But enough of this.
Tonight I will have a very simple supper - - traditional shepherd's pie and cheesecake for dessert. No champagne. Only grape juice.
I could bitterly say that fate is a ruthless bitch.
But I'll be gracious and give genuine thanks for what I have.
Jon
No cooking required, and Kedem grape juice tastes as good as wine.
Beautiful sunset sky, and the last glimpse of 2023.
ReplyDeleteI've done my fair share of partying on New Years Eve, and paid a dire price the next day. No longer....give me a quiet evening at home, a tasty dinner, such as your Shepherds Pie, and maybe a tipple of sherry, just for old times sake.
Wishing you a healthier and happy new year dear Jon, keep on climbing !
~Jo
I now enjoy simple meals now that I'm alone and I no longer care about drinking (believe me, I've done my share). I like the solitude.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful new year, with all positive things.
Have a tipple of sherry for me.
That sounds like a peaceful way to celebrate a New Year you might be surprised to celebrate! I know what it is to outlive almost all relatives and friends. But you still have the resourceful Jon,who's been through so much and is still here and ready for a New Years Eve dinner. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI prefer a solo, peaceful celebration and I enjoyed my simple dinner (I ate early). I might even indulge in another glass of grape juice*smile*
DeleteThank you for your encouragement and concern.
Have a wonderful new year!
Happy New Year from Texas. I hope your health continues to improve.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my Texas friend - - and I hope your new year is bright and filled with all positive things.
DeleteGoodness! Those were elaborate meals! The only bigger meals we ever had were for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but they weren't fancy and there was no alcohol--even on New Year's. Me--I just had leftover beef stew and my usual black coffee--lol! But it was good and I am full. What more can one ask for? Happy New Year, Jon! :)
ReplyDeleteWell Rita, we've miraculously made it to a new year and I hope it will be a positive one with new adventures.
DeleteMy old New Years Eve dinners were elaborate, but I no longer miss them - and I'd never have the energy to prepare them.
Simple things are the best.
Happy New Year, Jon. Wishing you a healthy new year and a new kittie....or two. The pictures were lovely. I always call those 'Wagnerian skies''....very dramatic. The Best to you this coming year.
ReplyDeleteParanormal John
I'm truly looking forward to a new kittie....or two.
DeleteIronically, I've been listening to a lot of Wagner lately, and that dramatic sky is a good accompaniment.
Hopefully 2024 will be a positive year for both of us.
Happy New Year! We made it to the end of 2023.
ReplyDeleteI'm relieved to see the end of 2023 and hope a bright ray of positivity is ahead. Thank you and have a great new year!
DeleteHappy New Year, Jon. I always went out on New Year's Eve, some nice restaurant that cost way too much money. It's been decades since I've done that and just as long since I stayed up to greet the New Year. I know you never expected to see the new year and yet, he you are. I look forward to your witty Storie of the recuperation I know you will have.
ReplyDeleteNew Years Eve was always important to me and I looked forward to celebrating. Nowadays the magic is gone and it's just another night.
DeleteI hope the new year will be filled with all good and positive things for you, Sandra.
We made it! And most importantly, survived! (Check out my Sandra's comic at https://snapperone.blogspot.com/)
ReplyDeleteActually, your NYE supper sounds better than the sodium, carb-laden junk I chose to shove in my mouth. Not unlike your extraordinary feasts of long ago, sometimes simpler is better; more satisfying. (Is wine-making on your proscribed list now?)
I'm really looking forward to travelling Route 2024 with you!
I just saw what happened to your New Years post. That's despicable!
DeleteCan you perhaps reach out to the Admins at Blogger to see if they can't find/restore it?
Simpler is definitely better. I used to go overboard on New Years Eve, and nowadays I couldn't care less. I lost my youthful enthusiasm.
DeleteI haven't made wine in a long time and it doesn't appeal to me since I've been sick. Perhaps in the future.....
My post was saved as a draft, but it completely vanished with no trace. I tried every possible ploy to retrieve it, but it's an impossibility. And it really was one of my best posts.
DeleteI might try writing a new one, but it just won't be the same.
Hi Jon, this is Dorothy (not anonymous) as commenting on my tablet seems to think (sigh) 😕 and I sincerely hope that 2024 will bring good things for you. Blogger has lost some of my posts as well, and sadly due to my own carelessness in hitting certain keystrokes. And was I ever mad because like yourself they were posts I had worked on for a while and gone in an instant😕 with no backup. One thing I have tried doing recently is to create a draft and then copy some Material into another draft so should I make the same error then at least I would have a sort of backup. It’s not a perfect solution, but a possible workaround.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will reconsider your decision to quit blogger because your blogger friends, like myself, would miss you. Please do hang in there as you have overcome so much in the past 6 months and this is just a minor speed bump in comparison.
Happy 2024 to you, my friend🎉🥂 from Patrick and myself. Thanks for your comments on my posts as well.
This problem has happened to me several times in the past. As soon as I finish writing a post, I try to publish it and it suddenly vanishes.
DeleteI've finally decided to takes screen shots of every paragraph as I'm writing. At least I'll have copies of my efforts.
As you said, I've overcome a lot of things and I shouldn't give up now.
Thanks for your input,Dorothy - and my very best to you and Patrick in 2024!
Sorry for any typos
Delete