Thursday, December 31, 2009


So it's New Year's Eve-

and I am sitting here with a bag of Wavy Lay's and drowning my sorrows in French Onion dip rather than the liquid happiness I have come to know and love over the years.

No, I am not an alcoholic. But I do like my social occasion drinks, and the New Year is a social occasion worthy of one, or two, or several. However, since I am now MIDDLE AGED, anything stiffer than a Diet Coke causes me to go into migraine alert. I've had nightmares of myself confined to a dark room with a cloth over my head, hand clutching my bottle of Fioricets, and moaning in agony. And that, my readers, is why I don't drink anymore.

I used to laugh at my mom and grandmom when we'd head up to Canada for the weekend and they'd let me, a 16 year old girl, loose in a discotheque full of hormone raged young Frenchmen. My mom and grandmom would head to the bar with me, and buy a bottle of Molson to share, asking the bartender for two glasses. As soon as the cap was off, I swear they acted like drunken fools just by inhaling the scent, without their lips ever touching the glass. I'd send them up to their room (the hotel was upstairs) and I would dance and drink until 3 am. And then go to Mike's for pizza with friends before staggering upstairs to my room. Sometimes an eager Frenchman would want to "help" me get to my room, but the moment I got upstairs and near the door good ole Gram would open the door and yank me inside while swearing at my admirer in French. Ah, the good old days of my youth. And now, I have trouble keeping down a good Margarita. I think I've become my mother. And I have already told the kids if I act stupid to lock me in the bathroom and throw away the key.

Less than an hour here on the East Coast until the ball drops and people go nuts in Times Square. It's hard to believe that #10YearsAgo (as I posted on twitter earlier) I was partying it up in RI with my buddy Nancy while dancing bachata and merengue in Horizontes and the Tropicana. So I am forcing myself to stay up and watch the ball drop... and then I can say "Happy New Year, here's to 2010!" before my head hits the pillow and I fall fast asleep.

2009 has come and gone, it has been a year of challenges, surprises and heartbreak. The world has changed very much in this past decade, and I worry about the future for my children and grandchildren. And I wonder what the future will bring, while trying to have hope and think positive thoughts. In the meantime, I wish all of you a very healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year-Happy 2010 everyone!

6 comments:

Vicki/Jake said...

AWWW, the good ol days huh...But like you, I remember the headaches and it's good to grow up enough to know how dumb it is!! But your stories about being with your mom and grandmom are a hoot! Lucky for you that grandmom had a good arm and could yank you away! haha. Have a great 2010 and I hope things change for the better. I'm here to listen..
Vicki

Leslie M. said...

Happy New Year! Lets Kick 2009 to the curb! I love reading your stories! They are always so colorful and descriptive! Thanks for a good read! :)
Love you,
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://www.leslielovesveggies.net/

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

Hi Michele! Happy 2010! Wishing you a year full of love and creative happiness! Thanks so much for your sweet visit!

Hugs,
Lisa :)

Jodi Anderson said...

Psst ... You won the giveaway at The Women's Colony for the earrings made by ZenMomma. I gave her your blog address, but feel free to contact her as well.

Sorry for the delay on that.

Zenmomma said...

Hi Michelle. Congratulations on winning the Women's Colony giveaway! Please email me at:

zenmomma@comcast.net

Give me your address and let me know which color earrings you would prefer, blue, green or purple.

Unknown said...

Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm so glad you did! I love your posts, your too funny! just your "about me" made me laugh... I have to come back for more..Hahaha.....