It’s the last day of 2009 in ohso voggy (volcanic fog) Hawaii.  I have a few hours to kill before I go out to celebrate the New Year with my friends. I’m writing this entry while looking out the balcony of my apartment and I feel content with my life.  It’s something I’ve never felt before.

New Year’s in Hawaii is crazy. The illegal fireworks start right after Thanksgiving, with random aerials lighting the sky in the early morning hours, and continues well after New Year’s Eve. As a kid, I’d stick a whole row of sparklers in the grass and light them one by one. When I got brave, I’d play with Morning Glories and write my name in the air, letting the sparks dance to the asphalt.

The big finale came at midnight, when my parents would string up the big red Chinese firecrackers to a ladder and light it. It’d take a good 10 minutes to finish and then another 45 minutes to clean up, but after it was done, we’d all feel luckier and happier somehow.  If we celebrated at my Grandma’s house, the whole family would come over, we’d potluck, and light sparklers in the front yard together. My Grandma would get her yearly glass of white wine and fall asleep well before midnight and we’d all kiss her goodnight before going home.

I’m 26 years old now. My parents moved to Seattle and  we rarely do extended family functions now.  I’m going over to a friend’s house with a bottle of champagne, bought a small box of sparklers, and plan on eating junk food with the people I adore. We won’t light the “Big Red” at midnight or light rows of sparklers in the front yard, but we’ll celebrate together and that’s enough for me.

Here’s to a fantastic 2010 for all of us.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

7 Comments » Posted: December 31st 2009
Filed under: Random Thoughts
Tagged In: happy new year, new year's in hawaii, what resolutions?