I've been trying to wrap my brain around previous New Years Eve memories, most of which are pretty generic and not really worthy of much reminiscing. 

Those of my teen years were spent either hanging out with friends or any of the serial boyfriends I had.  A little illicit alcohol and much giggling, some necking -- that's all I needed back then.

Those in my thirties have been exclusively celebrated at home, with little ones tucked away in their beds long before midnight and on some occasions, even myself.  You know you're the parents of small children when the prospect of sleep is much more alluring then staying up until midnight... and ON PURPOSE!

The only one that has remained memorable was from 1990.  As befitting the age, those New Years Eve's in my twenties were mostly experienced at private house parties with loud music, too much pot smoke and "enjoyed" (if I could call it that)  in various stages of inebriation.  We all worked retail jobs, were mostly artists and musicians, and didn't look much beyond the day-to-day living of a hand-to-mouth existence.

What little I do remember about that particular party at Andy's house was this:  I was having some horrible fight with my boyfriend Mark, spent some ill-advised time making out with his friend in the bathroom while people pounded on the door and then proceeded to get completely wasted.

So very wasted, in fact, that I managed to trip over myself and crashed right through a glass table in the living room.  Yup.  Right through it, bazillions of little pieces.

Was I okay?  I guess so, since 18 years later I have no memory of bruises or cuts.  The only other thing I recall is  of climbing into a cab by myself and asking to be taken home, confused as to why the cabbie didn't know where "home" was.   Mark and I continued living together until 2002, so we must not have broken up after the party.  I was still friends with Andy, so he couldn't have begrudged me too badly. 

I guess nothing much remains of that time beyond a smug chuckle of at least one New Years Eve gone bad, as I plan to stay up until midnight tonight playing Guitar Hero World Tour with my kids and hubby.

Happy New Year!

 - Caroline