New Year’s Eve and The Benefits of Middle Age

Happy New Year. I'm staying home.

Happy New Year. I’m staying home.

*There are things we all miss about our youth. I’m sure each of us can come up with a list. Mine might begin with my hair.

Yet, there are many benefits to getting older. Buying your own beer is a perfectly good example.

However, as we are on the cusp of another New Year, one particular benefit comes to my mind.

New Year’s Eve doesn’t matter. It’s just another night where we hope the children don’t bug us to stay up late and fall asleep quickly.

It wasn’t so long ago when New Year’s Eve was it!  Remember when you had to have New Year’s Eve plans.

WhatamIgoingtodoIhavetodosomethingI’mnotlameIhavetofindsomethingcoolandfunandamazingwhatareyoudoing?

Yup, it wasn’t a question of, well, maybe I’ll go out or maybe not. It couldn’t be some last-minute plans thrown together either. You had to have spectacular plans days in advance or the pressure would grow.

After all, everybody was going out and everyone was looking for a night to remember. The night had to be the greatest night with memories created to last the entire year.

Let’s say a party was the plan for the esteemed night. The food, the music and the company had to be awesome. Or maybe a dance club was the destination of choice. Everyone had to be beautiful, and the music had to be perfect.

On top of all this, you had to have a girl to kiss (or vice versa). Point of fact. I was a very shy kid. So, the times I had a girlfriend were rarer than the reddest steak you’ve ever eaten.

Therefore, the challenge was doubled for me: Find/attend an awesome event and someone to kiss by the time that ball descended. Or else.

Or else what? Well, if all these amazing things didn’t happen, I’d risk feeling lame. And setting a tone of loneliness and despair for the incoming New Year. Shudder the thought.

I don’t want to admit to you how many times I failed.

However, those days have passed.

Now, I’m married. I have two kids. I live in the suburbs.

And I couldn’t care less about New Year’s Eve. The pressure of making Dec. 31 a spectacular night is gone.

Instead, the pressures are over mortgage payments, getting kids to after-school activities and building up my business.

But that’s different. Much different.

Let’s stick to New Year’s Eve.

At this point in my life, I could not care less if I go out on Dec. 31. In fact, unless it’s a kid-friendly event, I would not even think of going out. I’m not shelling out the extra money for a babysitter who jacks up the price on party night so my wife and I can have our monthly date night. We are glad to have some adult time whatever night of the year it is.

So, no plans or plans on New Year’s Eve – doesn’t matter to me.

I’m happy to stay home, hang out with my family, eat some popcorn and watch television. I might not even stay up till midnight. Call me a rebel if you wish.

However, I think middle-aged is more like it. This is definitely one time of year when I am happy to not be young. Now let me go stretch before I get more aches and pains.

*= this is a repost as a version of this first appeared at http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2013/12/time_progressively_catches_up.html

Pic is courtesy of Google Images

9 thoughts on “New Year’s Eve and The Benefits of Middle Age

    • I hear you.
      Some mishegos is fun. But I don’t llke that it has to happen at a certain time or else.
      I’ll be crazy when I want to be crazy – damn it!

  1. I just stretched before coming to the computer because my middle aged shoulders hurt.

    And we’re just hanging out with friends– our kids have far more exciting plans than we do.

    Happy New Year!

    • Kids are past you at this point – ehh. Wow – that is a milestone.
      I hope you enjoyed the time with your friends.
      Happy New Year to you too.

  2. My New Year’s Eve plan were always evolving and changing, because once you have kids, your world is always evolving and changing! And yes, I wouldn’t attend a party that T couldn’t attend, and there were several years we celebrated at home… but I saw this year that Netflix was streaming a countdown – several hours early – so the parents could get the kids in bed 🙂

    • About the evolving – so true Kate.
      So now that T is not dependent on you, I hope you had plans that worked for you.
      I heard that about Netflix – thought it was kind of cool.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *