New Year 2010

The night began simply enough. My sister went to a party at a local restaurant with some friends. Danny, who is Pentecostal, was going to church. He said he would would be there until 1 and then call me. I didn't know what I was going to do, but at the last minute decided to go into the City and document the night. When I told Danny I was going to the City, he decided not to go to church, but to go with me instead. I had mentioned going to Times Square, but in reality, had no intention of going there. I've heard the horror stories.

We took the PATH train to 9th Street in NYC. I was headed to a tiny, hole-in-the-wall gay bar that Charity found recently. Danny made it clear that he was not interested in drinking, and far less interested in going to a gay bar. We turned a corner and found a small Mexican place called Ofrenda, that seemed like it was beckoning us. Me for the bar, and Danny for the "Feliz Ano Nuevo" written in shoe polish on the windows. We went in and ordered a pitcher of Sangria. We ordered some nachos and they arrived promptly with guacamole and frijoles. While we talked and worked on the Sangria, a second helping of nachos arrived with an addition of pickled pork skin. Apparently, this is good luck on New Year's Eve in Brazil. Pickled pork skin isn't bad, especially with black beans and guacamole, but I am glad I don't celebrate the New Year in Brazil every year.

We paid the check and made our way out the door, hailing a taxi bound for Times Square. I said something earlier about going to Times Square for New Year's Eve, but didn't really believe I would be there. The driver let us off at 6th Ave and 39th St. In reality, this is about three blocks south and two blocks east of Times Square, but this was as close as he could get us. We thanked him, got out of the car, and started walking north, only to find that all of the streets were closed. We walked back, and turned this way and that, finally getting to the intersection of 7th Ave and 38th St. At 7th Ave, the street was open and the crowd was pushing, surging this way and that, and over the course of the next 45 minutes, we were able to move 2 blocks north.

Along the way, someone asked if I had matches or a lighter. Right there on 7th Ave, he started smoking a joint. Back and forth it went, while I watched. The guy asked if I wanted a hit, and I said, "Sure!" After all, how many times do you have a chance to smoke a joint on 7th Ave, NYC? Danny glowered at me, so I asked for my lighter back and we continued on our northward push. Moments later, my hat was being pushed. Two of the cutest people were behind me, so I asked, "Do you need a Happy New Year picture?" They said yeah, and two others joined them in the photo. I didn't get names, so good luck Googling that! They are at the top of this page, tho, for posterity. They did say they were from NYC, and when I told them that I had read that Manhattanites HATE NYE, they said they were from Queens, which explains why they were there.

Uh oh, I suddenly realized I had to use the restroom. With the steady surge north, there was no bathroom to be found. When I told Danny, he said, "What about right here?" I looked around and decided the crush of people was thick enough, that perhaps I could get away with it. I kept expecting to feel a tap on my shoulder and cuffs on my wrists, but there was nothing. Five, four, three, two...I'm almost done, and Danny looks up and me and says, "Not on my pants!" None of the other three people near me said anything, so the moral of the story is this: If you have to pee on someone, the person you know might just forgive you!

At the stroke of midnight, the fireworks detonated, and the people cheered, and we followed the people out of the area. The second picture is my best attempt at the D-Day sailor photo that was also taken in Times Square. I would never presume that my picture would win a prize, but here it is for submission. It's the second picture.

Just as we got to 34th St, Danny said he needed to use the bathroom. Begging him to wait, we made our way to a cantina that was open late, paid the $20 cover charge, and had a couple more drinks. We split a burrito and some more chips and guac, then made our way home. All in all, a great New Year's Eve, but it might be several years before I return to Times Square on December 31!

Hoping everyone has the happiest and healthiest of New Years!