No Filter December has come to an end. I’ve enjoyed the freedom of blogging under the No Filter title so much, I may just declare next year “No Filter 2015.” Let’s just consider it that between ourselves, though, so I don’t have to preface every title with it, because frankly, that got tedious this month.
At any rate, it’s New Year’s Eve. Time for the Traditional Schmidt Household New Year’s Bash, a rollicking good time wherein we drink Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider and do a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes, if we’re feeling daring, we light a fire. This year we added a pot of chili to the mix AND were treated to gluten-free donuts made by the 14 year old. (There was a slight misunderstanding about the difference between 1/2 tsp and 2 tsp when it came to the salt measurement in the recipe, however, so we didn’t actually eat the donuts.)
When I was young and single, I did my time at New Year’s Eve parties. I remember one in particular, a rather large one for the Singles group at a popular church. After a painful hour or so, a friend and I, having recognized a certain desperation in each others’ countenances, politely sidled out without drawing undue attention to ourselves. As soon as we got to the sidewalk, we ran, yelling “Aaugh,” down the street. Yes, we literally yelled, “Aaugh.” It was that bad.
We ended up at a party at the home of a friend of his. It was a handful of people, and we sat around and played quiet games and chatted and I do believe it was the best New Year’s Eve party I have ever attended.
That was the last year I attended a big party.
A quick look at my Facebook newsfeed tells me that I’m not alone in enjoying staying home on New Year’s Eve, so either I’m getting old or a lot of people have come to the same conclusion as I that large New Year’s parties are overrated.
So to those of you who are joining the loud, the frantic and the raucous this evening in your celebration, I tip my hat. To those of you who are joining me in staying home, I lift my glass of sparkling cider to you and offer you a quiet and understanding grin.
And, since I spent some time with this little guy earlier today while his mistress and my daughter were riding bikes at the beach, I also offer you a Happy New Year grin from Sam. No, he’s really grinning. Really.
Julia's Inner Monologue 
We did New Year’s Eve at Disneyland one year and Knott’s another … you know the group … and while they were fun, I respectfully submit that when you wake up in the morning it’s still January 1st whether you went out, stayed in … or dare I say it, went to bed before midnight. Happy New Year’s!
LikeLike
Some years I go to bed early, trusting my neighbors to inform me of the passing of the new year when the time comes. They never let me down.
LikeLike
It was noisy here in Lawndale. After living in the mountains where it is so quiet it was a bit overwhelming.
LikeLike
Oh my, yes. Gone are the days of simply banging pots and pans. Now we must explode things!
LikeLike