party within the party

this new year’s party starts as expected , with the greetings , the hugs and kisses , the small chit chat as you move from room to room until eventually like some magnetic pull , a small circle of friends ( A circle that seems to get smaller with each passing year. ) gathers to form their own little party within the party.


As I sit down there’s Charlie , my oldest and dearest friend . we started first grade together, told me my first dirty joke and has had me in stitches ever since. still , like a bigger brother , watching over me , keeping me from harm’s way. then there is Sandra , who on the first day of freshman science class , walked in , sat next to me , looked into my eyes and stole my heart. one of these days I have to ask for it back. even after all the years and changes , she is still every bit as beautiful as the first time I set eyes on her. Nicky and Joey are arguing over a basketball game we played so many years ago, if I remember correctly we lost that game by 40 something points , for the life of me I can’t understand why they choose to care . they are our memory , if you want to know who did what to whom , they remember, even if you don’t want to. last but never least is Debbie , who is the most wonderful storyteller. She could have convinced Custer that things really aren’t that bad. she is the one that is always there when some one needs a shoulder or a helping hand and is probably the one most responsible for keeping us together all these years.


it’s a wonderful night of storytelling , talking about all the crazy , goofy things we have done together , and of course some of these stories get better with each year. we laugh and kid each other about our accomplishments and mistakes .the people we know and what happen to them . the talk turns to the children and schools , upcoming vacations and our plans for the new year. midway , I sit back , relax and just listen, trying to absorb as much of the stories and laughter as I can because I know time is drifting by and before long the night will pass . with all my traveling I don’t get to see them as much as I would like , so my memories of tonight will keep me company when i’m on the road and lonely.


having to get up soon for work, i’m the first to wish everyone a wonderful night , and for the second time so early this year we all kiss and hug and carry on so , to outside observers we must look like a bunch of wackadoos but I wouldn’t have it any other way. as i’m leaving and saying goodbye to those still here I look back one last time and wave before I’m out the door. driving home I think about this night and how lucky and happy i’am to have such wonderful friends. it gives me a sense of well being , a comfort zone , a cushion against the hard times we all have here and there. when I wake up later and head out alone on my own wacky trail I will do so with these beautiful people on my mind.


  Happy New Year’s everyone ! 


 “ Some names have been changed to protect the guilty. “