OY, IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

I don't know about you, but New Year's Eve, playfully known in Israel as Sylvester ( our New Years, is Rosh HaShannah, remember?) is quickly approaching.

Where did the time go?

Wanna hear my most favourite New Year's Eve story? Sure you do.

I had graduated from Wayne State by then and was working teaching school and living in Amber Flats in Royal Oak Michigan with my roommate, Helen.

For some reason, that year God had taken off early to rest with the Good Fairy in Florida and had forgotten to send us dates for New Years. Oy! So, in a moment of absolute temporary insanity, my roommate informed all the other tenants in our building 'that of course we had dates and couldn't wait.'

Nu so that being said, David the Chrystler executive from down the hall and Maynard, the Texas, sales manager for Shaeffer pens who lived across from our flat wanted to see us all dressed up before our dates came to pick us up.

Ok, so what would you do? Besides killing your roommate, I mean. Yes. We got all dressed up...including hair and makeup.

Ohhs and ahhhs danced over us as we pranced in front of our neighbours. 'So, when are the boys coming to get you?' I don't remember which of the two men asked.

Not missing a beat, Helen smiled her little innocent smile, and told them that we were meeting them at some fancy restaurant for dinner in order to save time.

So, we had to get into our coats and in the snow, drive away off on our big date for New Year's Eve.

As soon as it was possible, we drove back to as close as we dared, to our apartment. We parked the car in some place where no one would recognize it and began trudging in the snow, in the dark towards our back porch...with the Japanese hibachi and little two seater swing...where we had brilliantly left the glass door open a crack.

Once safely back inside our warm flat, we spent New Year's Eve in the dark...God forbid anyone should have found us, eating leftovers and I think crying, but that part I'm not sure of.

The hardest part of the entire evening was not bursting out in fits of giggles which for sure would have let the cat out of the bag.

Oy we were so young. See, all we had to do was drive back to Windsor and be with our families...but God forbid, anyone in Windsor should have known we didn't have dates for...you get the rest.

Here in Jerusalem, NYE is no big deal. Some go out for dinner...some have a party...but most of us just sit around trying to stay awake long enough to toast in the new year...mostly with herbal tea or decaf coffee.

So why am I bringing it up all together? Well, see, NYE is the right time for New Years Resolutions and this year I have a few that I'm going to try out.
1. the diet...again
2. I'd like to finish my novel...Emma Shelby is No More (almost done)
3. maybe this year I can save a little for a trip across the big water
4. and 5. I haven't decided on yet.

Do you have any resolutions? Maybe I can borrow some of yours for #s 4 and 5?

Shabbat shalom.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.