quietest New Year's Eve....

in many years. At home, because this is the year of the pandemic. Listened to Beethoven's 9th, while I read some essays about segragation in the NYC school system. Worked---really mellow---I can't remember an Eve where I was more relaxed. Of course in the past, I HAD to go out! Can't stay home on New Year's Eve if the world is out partying. "Cool guys" never stay home. So for the last fourteen years, I would either be at South Fourth Bar or La Flaca---the restaurant--bar---hangout that my friend Bob owns.

Good times---bad times---a bit of both. Sometimes I would just sit at the bar by myself, watching the clock, hungry for the countdown, which meant that the whole "procedure" would be over. Other times there were some interesting conversations or interactions. Still, I resented the day---the only evening where the are no other options but to "hang out" (if you are single) and stare at the tv as the year winds down.  Last night I felt relaxed just staying home.

And today, 1/1/21. I woke up feeling lethargic, but soon after the building manager called me: the boiler needed adjustment and the man to fix it  was coming in soon---could he ring my bell so that I would let him in? My bell is defective so I spent the next 15 minutes running back and forth between the apartment in the small lobby we have, to make sure he arrived. How many times did I clim the one flight stairs to my apartment? Probably six or seven---so much for my lethargy. As for the rest of the day--well, I would love to travel to another borough but will probably end up sitting at home and reading a lot. Closes to finishing The Wars of the Roses; glad I read it---the reality of that era is very different from what Shakespare has given us in the Henry VI trilogy and its final play, Richard III, The real story is much bloodier. As for what else is in store...? Well, we will see....