Dear New Year’s Eve, from a New Year’s Eve Cynic
Dear New Year’s Eve:
I would really, honestly love to believe that you are going to be a wonderful, magical night of fun and partying with friends, that will culminate with a perfect countdown to midnight, the jovial tone of all of which will amount to my having a simply tremendous year.
However, I have been alive for 19 long, eventful years and in those years I have acquired some deep, extensive wisdom (read: absolutely none). Unfortunately, I have, in the more recent of those years, come to see you for what you really are, New Year’s Eve. When I was young, I would watch TV and see all the fun people appeared to be having in New York City, while watching special episodes of all sorts of shows depicting how exciting it was to ring in a new year. Now, I see how wrong those shows were.
I have yet to experience a New Year’s Eve that has lived up to the confetti-filled, tacky sunglasses, champagne, fancy outfits, kindled romances, all smiles image of the evening that I was educated in back in the day. My New Year’s Eves have consistently disappointed: unless you get on guest list 15 months in advance (slight exaggeration), be prepared to spend your midnight standing in line in the cold outside a mediocre club or bar. I have tried the messy house party, and I’ve even tried a hockey game. Yet ever year I’ve brought in the New Year tired, cold, and disillusioned. Every year, it’s “where are we going to go?” every day up until the actual day, and then on that day, it’s the hunt for something to do, and it’s snowing, and “what am I go to wear?”, and the self-evident cynic in me just questions why I bother, year after year. I go out a lot of nights in a given year; and on most of those nights, I will enjoy myself. But the only magic of New Year’s Eve for me is its apparent curse.
In the moment, it’s exciting. I will give you that, New Year’s Eve. That countdown leading up to midnight, and midnight itself, brings a bit of a flutter to my heart. But after a minute or so of celebrating that, it’s January 1st, and I’ve had my fill.
Now there’s an entire movie, featuring approximately 600 celebrities (no exaggeration this time), dedicated to the cause of continuing the myth of the wonders of this night. I’m sure there are many people out there who enjoy their New Year’s Eve, such as all those celebrities most likely, but for myself and any other skeptics who feel gypped by New Year’s Eve, I thought I would put this out there. New Year’s Eve, come on. Step your game up.
Most sincerely,
A New Year’s Eve Cynic.
(I also go by Danielle.)
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