New Year's Eve 2008

Today is New Year’s Eve.  We have a party at church tonight.  We’re going to have a church service and then a party.  I’m making brownies and cheesecake to take.  Before anybody thinks I’ve morphed into a good cook, they’re both from mixes.  That’s the only way I cook–the shorter time I spend in the kitchen the better.  After all, it’s harder to read a book in the kitchen than it is sitting on the couch.

So after the party and feasting and fellowship, we’ll come home having rung in the New Year.  And then we’ll go to bed and maybe get up early to watch the ball drop in New York.  It’s due to drop at 8:00 a.m.  Then I might go back to bed.  But I might stay up to wish my family a Happy New Year at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

I think it’s rather strange the idea of sleeping first and then watching the ball drop.  Back home everyone’s staying up late to watch it, and then they’ll sleep.  But then they’re not half way around the world where it will be broad daylight by the time the ball drops.  So, yes, around here you ring in the New Year, go to bed, and then get up to watch the ball drop.

It’s even stranger when the ball will drop before my family even has their New Year’s.  It will still be 2008 for them when the ball drops in New York, while it will have been 2009 for eight hours already for me.

And then you have to think that it’s been New Year’s already even longer for Japan and China, but still 2008 for several hours yet for Hawaii.  I haven’t done the math, but I wonder if it is 2009 for almost an entire day for some of the world before 2009 comes for all the world.  Yes, I know if you stand on either side of the International Date Line it is an entire day’s difference, but it’s water on either side.  I’m talking about land where people actually live.

It’s kind of strange when you think about it.  New Year’s Day starts on January 1 for everyone, but New Year’s Day doesn’t start at the same time for everyone.

Interesting, though weird.

So how are you spending your Christmas Eve?  I hope you’re spending it with friends or family.  Is your New Year’s before or after the ball drops. Will you be viewing it in person or on television?  Do you even care?

I wish you a Happy New Year, and I hope 2009 will be a wonderful year for you and better than 2008.