Happy New Year!
From Jeff Baker
(December 31, 2023)
Here’s my New Year’s Eve Story.
December 31st, 1969 my Mom & Dad went down the street to a party, leaving me with a babysitter; Jan, the girl who lived next door who was about five years older than me (I was nine. I had this big, unrequited crush on her!)
I wanted to see the New Year come in. Mom & Dad said it was okay as long as I went to bed first, I could get up just before Midnight.
I had dinner from the fridge, drank a bottle of 7-Up and checked my watch. I don’t remember what was on TV. I don’t remember what day of the week it was. (Wednesday. I just looked it up.)
I hopped in bed around nine or so and set my alarm for about 11:50. Jan stayed downstairs and did homework.
I snoozed, the alarm went off, I got up, we watched the clock and then 12:00am came and…
Nothing.
We turned on the TV, nothing on but an old movie. (Remember, 1969.)
We went outside. Nothing. Night, stars, breeze.
We figured the clock was off. So I checked my watch, re-set my alarm and in a few minutes it went off at 12:00.
Fireworks popped outside!
We yelled, we jumped, we danced, we welcomed 1970!
I had another bottle of 7-Up and went back to bed. And that was New Year’s when I was Nine…
—end—
authorjeffbaker 