A new year brings with it a multitude of events and narratives for individuals to welcome or to disregard peacefully. Yes, I have taken an active part in the once yearly day and evening celebrations. And, from personal experience, the natural aging process rings a silent bell to the former younger revilers. Oh, to be young again and staying awake past midnight rather than falling asleep listening to “Wheel of Fortune,” airing at 6 p.m. weekdays on most television networks. And, there’s nothing to compare with the next morning’s hangover! Admit it. You tried it and you liked it! At the time. Thank-you, Mr. Tylenol! You saved my life numerous times, especially during my younger years.
One thing I especially miss from my formative adolescent years is the revelation of the first baby born in DeKalb County, TN. I couldn’t wait to read the front page of the time-honored “The Smithville Review” about the new, little, local citizen. On the front page, lower-half beyond the fold, the newspaper article, usually written by the late managing editor, Dorothy Isabell Walker, always featured a new photo of the baby and a list of prizes the family received honoring the infantile local citizen.
True, there are many resolutions and changes affiliated with the beginning of a new year. According to Tom Crowfoot of the World Economic Forum, some of the magnanimous news articles of 2022 include:
1. Inflation surges around the world.
2. The Omicron coronavirus variant spreads.
3. Russia invades Ukraine.
4. United States Supreme Court overturns abortion rights (Roe vs. Wade).
5. Record breaking heatwaves.
6. Droughts around the world.
7. Flooding in Pakistan.
8. Queen Elizabeth 11 of Great Britain dies from “old age,” (97 years old.)
9. World population exceeds 8 billion.
10. COP 27’s “loss and damage” fund for vulnerable countries.
Crowfoot continued, “The year 2022 has been full of rapid and unexpected changes; from severe flooding in Pakistan and the sudden death of Queen Elizabeth 11 in Great Britain, the above news stories unfolded during 2022. The cumulative numbers too were released recently.
National Today just issued a “by the number’s” lineup composite of New Year’s trivia, which include:
11,875 pounds - the weight of the Times Square ball.
360 million – the number of sparkling wines that are consumed each year in the United States.
41% - the number of Americans who rank New Year’s Eve as their favorite holiday.
12 % - the number of Americans who fall asleep before midnight.
102.1 million – the number of people who travel in order to reach their New Year’s Eve destination.
$1,160 – the average price for dinner and entertainment for two persons in New York City on this date.
365 – the number of black-eyed-peas one should eat for luck on New Year’s Day.
2,688 – the number of Waterford Crystal triangles that covered the Times Square Ball in 2019.
1942 – the only year when Time’s Square remained dark on New Year’s Eve.
67% - the number of Americans who made resolutions on New Year’s Eve.
In reminiscing, Lucy and I, as children, didn’t trust Dad’s culinary knowledge. For many years, we heard that eating Hogs Jowl and Black-Eyed peas on New Year’s Day would bring us untold luck. Mom and Dad tried every trick in the book to encourage our eating the “um-um-good” meal. We thought
Dad said, “Hogs’ JAW!” To please our elders, we broke the smallest imaginable piece of the
“delicacy,” put it in our tiny mouths, closed our eyes, and swallowed the tiny pieces until we gagged and my parents congratulated us!
Lucy and I made a pact at that moment.
“Never again” while Dad grinned and never heard a word we said!
“Same time and place next year?” Dad seriously asked us.
“YEP,” we sadly said in unison.
He heard us. But we had hoped he hadn't.
