Hello 2006!

The commercial, honky-tonk end of Fort Myers Beach -- a sugary smile of a barrier island -- calls itself "Times Square," just in case J and I got homesick. At midnight last night they were planning to drop a . . . beach ball.

Some highlights of our evening:

I don't know what got into me, but I sang Del Shannon's "Runaway," in the original falsetto, complete with the instrumental parts, for my nephew Matt, who was born 3 days after my 30th birthday and will be 30 himself this year.

My 77-year-old husband fell on my 87-year-old father. Neither was seriously injured.

Awaited midnight out on the beach with my parents, Matt, and glasses of champagne. What a lucky break at my age to be warmly sandwiched between two generations. My dad expressed his surprise and delight at the "miracle" of still being here for another new year, his sadness at the departure of old friends in 2005 and his anticipation of the arrival of new people.

There were bonfires on the sand and fireworks in the sky down the beach in both directions, and then, most magically and mysteriously, a rare fog rolled in. It obliterated the condos that mar both ends of the island, rolling us back 50 years to the time when habitation melted into wilderness just beyond those palm trees. It both hid and amplified the fireworks, the wall of fog flashing with red and green heat lightning. It smelled of mingled water and smoke. Somewhere in the fog, a bagpiper was playing "Amazing Grace."

Although this is a time of uncertainty and anxiety for us personally, and for our country, a new year is as irresistible an invitation to hope and anticipate as a new baby. May this be a year of amazing grace for you, dear podmates, blogfriends, habitués (great word, as for a regular patron of a café) and passersby.

Comments

[realpc]

Happy New Year!

[Winston]

What a wonderfully different way to do New Year's Eve! And, yes, agreed, habitué is a great word to describe the regulars here and about. Sort of a virtual "Cheers". Happy New Year, amba!

[Danny]

That sounds like the perfect New Years Eve (except for the falling)! And I'd give anything if you'd post a RealAudio file of your rendition of "Runaway."

Happy New Year,
Danny

[amba]

Danny -- if only I were more of a techie, I'd do it!! If you ever saw "48 Hours," or was it "Trading Places," and remember Eddie Murphy in jail on earphones singing "Roxane," it's about in that class.

[AmbivaBro]

Wow. Dad's in even better shape than I thought if he can get tackled by J and not break anything.

And J takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Good for him. And you, too.

[nappy40]

New Year's on the beach. Sounds wonderful.

[Jude]

I feel the same about being in the middle generation. I like to think that for as long as I am sandwiched between the very old and the young, I can always claim to be 'middle-aged'.

[amba]

Especially since my definition of this stage of life (based on experience) is, "You know you're middle-aged when old people think you're young, and young people think you're old."

[Harry Gottlieb]

But the real fireworks last night were the stars which, in the absence of the moon,were brilliant, and put to shame our puny efforts to match them with our man-made stuff. It was great for us to share the the midnight moment with Annie & Matt. Happy New Year to all her blogging friends.

A.M.

[Tamar]

Amba, Am sliding in late everywhere! But what a beautiful description of your New Year's Eve. Happy New Year. From my heart.

[Tom Strong]

I'm glad you had a good time.

Belatedly, happy Chanukah, and best wishes for '06.

[reader_iam]

Best to you in 2006, and all the peace you can find.

I enjoyed your blog so much last year and fully expect that won't change any time soon!

Thanks.