A New Year Blessing

As the New Year’s Eve ball dropped from Times Square, our Pasadena neighborhood burst forth with fireworks.  Dazzling fish and shooting stars filled the sky and loud booms accentuated the display.  Stars shone dimly through each burst of light.  The big dipper hung low in the sky.  My cavalier moved off the sofa and joined the ruckus with his barking.  As he is particularly sensitive to lights more than the sounds, he stared out our French doors.   Only a few ventured outside to watch.

 I did not hear any pots banging and clanging.  Neighbors used to come out at the stroke of midnight after giving everyone a New Year's hug and kiss.  Doors flew open in Pasadena and people made as much noise as possible with those pots and pans, yelling greetings to their neighbors doing likewise.  Wooden spoons struck stainless steel lids or metal tablespoons stirred inside empty metal pots.  Sleepy children roused for the merriment were carried outside to join the noise.

In one nearby neighborhood years ago, the parents had ventured forth to celebrate at another house.  They had an aunt stay over to watch the young children.  She decided that it was too late and they were too young to arouse them from sleep to see the New Year.  After all what was a new year to the young?  They made no resolutions to try in vain to keep.  The house was quiet before midnight and she found herself dosing before the TV.  Giving up the thought of watching the Big Apple she changed into her nightclothes and joined the children.  Midnight came to a sleepy house.

Outside revelers armed with their pots and pans yelled in the New Year.  The noise seemed extra loud to the parents and they paused with heads tilted to listen but whatever they heard was gone.  They parted with more hugs and “Happy New Year” good wishes.  Ambling through the dark night, they thought about years that had past and the future year to come with their young children growing up so fast.  A light shone in the living room as they crept quietly into their sleepy home. Her husband strode into the living room to turn off the light as she sneaked into the bedrooms to kiss the children.  As she bent over their faces peaceful and angelic in sleep, she heard her husband shout.  Running from the room, she saw him standing in the middle of the living room staring at a bullet embedded into the floor.  Looking up she saw where it had entered through the ceiling and roof.  How blessed they were for sleeping children!