Ah, 2023 was a sly dog, wasn’t it? Although it was much better than my 2022, it still came in like a whirlwind, tossing my plans in the air like confetti and leaving me to figure out how to clean up the mess. I have to say, though, while it gave me a fair share of downs, it also gave me a lot of ups, and for that, I salute it. 🎉
I sit here reflecting on the past year, and I can’t help but think about how New Year’s celebrations have transformed over the ages—my ages, to be precise. Back in the day, New Year’s Eve was a spectacle of epic proportions. I’d be out on the town with friends, counting down the seconds and making resolutions that I was probably going to break by January 2nd. We’d stay up until the wee hours of the morning, dancing like nobody’s watching (or, at least, dancing like we hoped nobody was watching).
Fast forward a few years, and New Year’s became a family affair. I traded in the late-night shenanigans for staying up late at home, desperately trying to keep my eyes open as the kids drifted off to dreamland long before the clock struck twelve. The real party was in watching the kids attempt to stay awake, only to be defeated by the Sandman’s relentless onslaught.
For the past few years, the New Year’s Eve extravaganzas even look more different as it’s me who is fighting sleep and heading off, to bed before the kids. Yes, you read that right— I traded in the midnight madness for an early bedtime. I can’t help it. Getting up at 4am every morning is not doable unless I’m in bed by 9pm at the latest. So, this year, just like last year, you can bet that as the clock strikes twelve, I will be in dreamland, probably snoring my way into the new year. It’s a different kind of party—a slumber party if you will.
I may or may not have had a small glass of sparkling grape juice before; I’m not sure. Did you know they have flavors now? It’s not just purple and green grape juice anymore. Now they have one flavor mixed with strawberry juice and another mixed with orange juice. I have to say they are yummy.
Anyway, I’m sure just like last year, too, come January 1st morning, as I sip my tea, my daughters will regale me with tales of the ball drop and confetti showers. I remember hearing about it last year. Apparently, it was the event of the century (just like the year before that, too), and I missed it all. Ah, the times, they are a-changin’. But you know what? I’m fine with that.
As I look ahead to 2024, I’m filled with hope and faith that the memories I made—some blurry, some crystal clear—will live on forever. In the coming year, I’m looking forward to watching my daughters bloom into the amazing women they’re destined to be, riding horses as much as I can and embracing the great outdoors.
I’m also looking forward to writing and publishing two new series with London James and Emmalynn Paige and working on a standalone for Angela Christina Archer.
So, here’s to the evolution of New Year’s and the ever-changing wonders of life. May 2024 bring more laughter, more growth, and just the right amount of sleep—whether it’s before or after the ball drops. Cheers to the adventure that awaits!
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