New Year’s Eve celebrations certainly vary from place to place, each has its own way of welcoming in the New Year.
When we lived in New York City years ago, we never went to Times Square to see the ball drop with a million of our closest friends.
Now that we’re retired and have the time, we still don’t go anywhere near there. A million people! Can you imagine how long the lines must be for a bathroom, if you can find one?
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Down in Key West, they have a unique way of celebrating the New Year. We visited a few years back on New Year’s Eve. Over at Sloppy Joe’s Café, they have a special tradition. Like the Times Square ball drop, they do a drop at midnight too, but no ball is used. Instead, they drop a Conch Shell. What better way to celebrate in the Conch Republic?
Here in South Carolina, I was unaware of how they welcome the New Year. I long ago gave up staying awake to see the New Year in. I went to bed early and was enjoying some sweet dreams when it happened…
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I found myself awake in mid air where I had jumped. I wasn’t sure if I was back in a war zone or I suddenly found myself in the middle of a Fourth of July celebration. The fireworks were exploding all around us, shaking the Journey and rattling my teeth.
Yep, they like their fireworks here in South Carolina!
![images[8]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12vG9_W5ue9PuP4zoM0HYJh05qopd9mUAlQomYNuJAeT6C9AoVREGOJB-uBSIduwYcGHASoZEXNqbigamnLvzaXrJ8qQl_Vo7W-gJkhYd7TsHSBMQvWr5bz5ZZBTFOQhicyWgRoAs4wsz/s1600-h/images%25255B8%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "images[8]")
Next year, I have to remember ear plugs!
Happy New Year!
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment!
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I totally slept through it all here in California. Happy New Year, you two !
ReplyDeleteWe actually stayed up till midnight!!..shocker!!
ReplyDeleteHuh . What did you say?
ReplyDeleteWe managed to stay awake until midnight -- a rarity -- and watch the ball drop in Times Square. . . on TV of course. No desire to be there in person.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
My neighbor said that folks behind our park shot off fireworks at midnight but you sure couldn't prove it by us. I heard some about 10:30 and then it was off to la la land. I like the doxie parade they have in Key West on New Year's Eve day. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteNot even a peep of noise here on the refuge.
ReplyDeleteFlorida is a fireworks state too and we heard them start up before and continue after midnight in spite of a clear park ban on fireworks. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteYears and years ago we used to watch the ball drop on TV from New York but like I said that was definitely some time ago. Now I mostly celebrate with Europe and sometimes much later and with Hawaii. They like their fireworks in this part of Arizona too. The Wal-Mart down the road was very busy selling them.
ReplyDeleteWe watched the ball drop at midnight too but from afar. I can't even imagine being there. No desire.
ReplyDeleteNo midnight for us either. Why do you think we come to Florida after New Years??? They scare all the birds this way from South Carolina;o)) We'll send pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and all the family!!
Hey - I stayed up until midnight and watched the ball drop in Times Square! Then I realized it was only 9pm here in California so I just went to bed. No fireworks to wake me up at midnight though as that may have finished me off.
ReplyDeleteWas nice to be in CA and watch the ball drop at 9 pm :) Then I watched George sleep on the couch, while I watched movies. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you are ever on Oahu during New Years be prepared for many loud fireworks from sundown to after midnight. Some Asian cultures believe setting off fireworks around your house wards off evil demons. They especially like the long strings of very loud firecrackers.
ReplyDeleteOne guy on our street, had a string of firecrackers so long, he somehow draped it over the streetlight and the firecrackers went off all the way up the two strings. My cats hid for hours.
On our street, a residential neighborhood, it sounded like a war zone. After midnight, the streets were a total trashy mess of burned out fireworks.
And then in Honolulu, there is Kalakaua Ave. which is crazy with fireworks on New Years Eve. We avoided it like the plague!
Me and crowds don't do well ... so we watch the ball drop on the new year on TV ... if we are awake, which we usually aren't ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think we must be getting old. The ball dropped without us this year. We were in bed and asleep by that time.
ReplyDeleteI went to bed at 10 minutes before midnight, fell immediately asleep, then had the wits scared out of me when my next door neighbor set off some "big stuff."
ReplyDeleteI have just recently become a follower of your blog--just had to check out who this PD guy was who frequently drives long days. We are pretty new at full-timing, 16 months, and usually do the opposite. I read somewhere about the 230 miles or 2:30 p.m. principle and, for the most part, we have enjoyed that pace of traveling. Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete--Pam and Vic of the Big EZ
My father lives in Dillsburg and they drop a pickle at midnight.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Marti.