That old expression used by so many of us, for as long as we can remember, keeps popping up in conversations: time passes. As we approach the turning of another year, we may have mixed feelings about the conclusion of 2023. How we choose to experience our yearly celebration of New Year’s is one age-dependent custom. How one views time passing is totally dependent on the stage of life.
Childhood brings excitement about the night before the official date. Other holidays hold annual events that may be equally wonderful, yet the kind of celebratory experience someone chooses does relate to age. In the early days of childhood, New Year’s Eve parties were family-oriented, mostly fun and games. Adolescence added some of the shivery anticipation of staying up into the wee hours partying, even if the party might turn out to be a dud for some of the participants. Somehow the group of like-minded kids who were able to have fun without going too far beyond the edge often ended up together before going home. The mid-twenties and thirties brought more subdued events for the majority of all generations. The recipe for successful celebrations with children depended on the type of beverages available to all. It has to be non-alcoholic, otherwise the party continues somewhere else and trouble ensues.
If the adult beverages are hidden away while the children are participating, take note that usually the kids have uncovered the stash and neither the kids nor the drinks stay hidden. I hope everyone had a happy, healthy, New Year’s Eve!
By Dolly Viscardi
Special to the Herald Times
Thoughts expressed in the opinion section are exclusively those of the writer and do not reflect those of Golden Lasso Media or the Herald Times.
