Holding back the years

I remember the days when New Years Eve was a huge occasion for me. All of my friends would congregate at the house of our friend with the "cool parents" - you know, the ones who were okay with underage drinking - get blitzed, and just be merry (the "cool parents" at least had the state of mind to take our car keys). This went on throughout my college years, where we were no longer underage drinkers, until we all started to go our separate ways. Each year after that became a challenge to come up with something new to do. Always the type of person who lives in the past, I did my best to keep the tradition alive each year, as marriages and children affected the yearly attedance. Last year we were down to two, the Barron and I spent the evening at home together watching Anderson Cooper ring in 2008 with Kathy Griffin.

Tonight, I am sitting in a hospital room in my pajamas with a sore abdomen, swollen breasts, and cracked nipples. The couple sharing my room has their entire extended Italian family up to watch the ball drop past visiting hours, and they are trying in vain to get away with it (I'll keep you posed). The Barron is sitting on a cheap faux leather recliner to my right and next to me, my perfect son is rousing from sleep. I can't believe how fortunate I am. After all the fun times and great memories, there is nothing more I could want than this. We will ring in 2009 with a glass of sparkling cider and a nice buzz from my percoset. I hope all of you get everything you wish for in 2009 - here's to a great year.