Auld Lang Syne

December, 2006... My fiance-turning husband on the 29th wanted me to experience New Years in the Netherlands. He told me about the amazing fireworks. I'm American - when I think of amazing fireworks, I think of a HUGE, spectacular display put on by the city... something where we grab chairs and blankets and snacks and find a nice patch of grass to sit on so we can watch. But when we stopped off at a fireworks stand, I started to get worried.... why are we buying all these fireworks if there's already a big show we're gonna see? The husband says "no... not a big show... WE make the big show!" I was horrified... My first new years in Europe. I was expecting Paris or London with thousands of people and a fireworks show to remember... I didn't argue - we were going to be with his cousins, and his family, and who was I to make a fuss as the new wife?

Fast forward to New Years Eve... there are 14 of us, packed into a tiny, 3 bedroom apartment in Holland. There is food... there is laughter... there is music on the TV... there are people in the streets, popping firecrackers. There's still a slight bit of disappointment in my heart... I wanted that AMAZING display of fireworks somewhere in Europe... with my new husband. If I remember correctly, Stevie couldn't even enjoy the evening because she started puking long before midnight :( The hours dragged on... laughter... music... family... food...

11pm approaches. The boys (young AND old) were getting antsy... they were in and out of the house, setting off noisemakers and bright flames. Neighbors were pre-toasting the coming year. I was cold - running in and out, between fireworks and checking on Stevie. Midnight was coming soon... we all rushed inside to wait for the countdown on TV...

I'm not sure of the EXACT moment - but somewhere in the madness of countdowns and "cheers", Nico grabbed my hand and we started walking. We walked up to the street corner, and right at midnight we kissed underneath the streetlamp... surrounded in billions of fireworks. All of my disappointment washed away! After we kissed, we stood, embracing on the street corner, and looked out at all of the fireworks. I can't even explain it! They were everywhere... not a blank spot in the skyline that surrounded us. It was magical.

I soaked up the moment for a bit, then I ran back to the house and upstairs to check on Stevie again... Someone had gone upstairs and opened the curtains for her so she could admire the beauty from the bed :) I sat with her for a moment... ringing in a brand new year with her, too. My little family of 3.

That was our tradition for ... several years. Last year, we transitioned back to the states from Europe and I was so disappointed in New Years Eve... It was Stevie and I who were left standing, and we watched the ball drop on TV. I got up, we hugged... then we went to bed. This year, I was in a last minute dash to make SOME kind of plan! However, I got burned out trying to throw it all together... I was trying to resort to wanting something huge, rather than appreciating something simple... what means more than family?

So today - Nico and I drove out to the fireworks stand and bought 2 small packages of fun and a handful of sparklers... we'll find SOMETHING to do to drive us through midnight, and we'll ring in the new year... together... :) I may not have my street corner in the Netherlands, surrounded by billions of fireworks - but I WILL still have that same awesome man to kiss at midnight.

Here's to new traditions!