Feliz año nuevo...お正月おめでとう。。。Happy New Year!

Definitely one of the quietest New Years' Eves that I have ever had. Didn't have the desire to be up 'til 3 cleaning up the house after a party like last year, though, so that way it worked out great.

Did you see Dick Clark last night? America's Oldest Teenager...poor man doesn't sound like it anymore. I was impressed he was doing the show, but my heart ached for him as I heard him talk and could practically feel his labored breathing. It's hard to see icons of our youth aging, fading away and dying.

The Manor house across the street let off aerials last night. Down our street (the "wrong side of da tracks") someone went out to their porch, banged on a piece of kitchen Revereware with a spoon yelling, and I quote, "HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2006! YEAH!"

We, being sick of the kids by 10:30, told them to get their slippers and hats on quick because they were going to miss New Year, and to run out to the porch so they wouldn't miss it, and then we counted down at approximately 10:37 p.m., K yelled "Happy New Year", we all gave each other a kiss, and then we put the kids to bed.

This all follows what felt like one of Father Pat's longest Masses and some great Indian take-out.

We bought the truck, by the way. I like it. A definite update for our changing needs. The kids got cool balloons. Conocí una nicaragüense y un peruano, de Pisco, que eran sorprendidos que hablara su idioma. Dicen que todos los latinos van por los Toyotas y los Mercedes. Charlamos mucho, y aun K trató de mostrar lo que sabe del castellano.

The New Year is so much a larger deal in Japan than here, and I miss the emphasis and the preparation placed on the New Year there. It is a very spiritual time. One year I got to toll the giant bell in the temple, which is done 108 times. We watched 演歌、テレビで、そばとそしてオゾニ(sorry, no ozoni this year!!!)も食べました。いつも島温泉で盆宴会いくつへ行って、たくさんすしを食べたり、お酒も飲んだり、すごく楽しみました。そして１月１５日ごろは中之条町の鳥追い祭りです。

それからね。。。新年おめでとうございます！今年も、たいへんよろしく御願いします。