I've Never Much Cared For New Year's Eve

Bobo and I

New Year's Eve has never been on my list as one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger it was always a holiday where I felt incredibly alone. Probably because if I sit down and reflect on various New Year's Eves in my life, for the vast majority I WAS alone.

Don't get me wrong, I love being alone with myself...NOW. That wasn't the case in my 20s and 30s. Back then if I was alone for New Year's Eve I felt like a leper. I would ignore the television, crawl into bed at 10pm and pray that I would wake up after the clock struck midnight. All of that in an attempt to avoid seeing the sickeningly sweet smooching of saccharin couples at midnight. I felt like the lemon in the bunch.

Until...I found my first cat,  my Bobo. For more years than I probably should admit, but lovingly remember, Bobo and I brought in the New Year together.

I used to laugh when I would look at his neck (that always looked to me as if he were wearing a napkin), and imagine a black bow tie around it, and a little tuxedo on his back.

If he wasn't in the living room with me, I would find him sleeping happily on my bed. I would creep in at 11:55 pm, gently pick him up and tell him he had to get ready for his "New Year's dance with Mama" (yes I AM certifiable)....

I would hold him and raise his paw (in the form of a waltz) and dance with him to "Auld Lang Syne" and thank him for yet another wonderful year. Bobo, always one to please his Mama, tolerated my tradition for many, many years.

Of course there were some years when I WAS out, or when I married, where the "tradition" was no longer a yearly event.

I always felt a void. As if the New Year would be tainted if I didn't have my dance with my precious Bobo.

Those years whenever I DID get home I would make sure to pick him up at whatever time it was and dance to "Auld Lang Syne". Then and only then, I knew I was starting my year as it should be, with my "Baby Bobo", who loved me for many, many years, often  when nobody else seemed to care.

Bobo as a kitten

Bobo has been gone nearly 4 years now and there have been 3 New Year's Eves without him physically present in my life, but still when the clock strikes midnight, and my loving husband, our precious cat Cody and our dear dog Dakota all exchange kisses, I will still be dancing with my Bobo in my heart, and always will, for all of the New Year's Eves to come.

**Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve wherever you are and however you celebrate. Thanks for sharing 2010 with Cody and I. We are grateful for each and every one of you, you all touch our hearts in many, many ways....we hope you will join us in 2011!


**I apologize for the poor quality photos...they are not actually the "New Year's Dance" but you get the idea...these photos are currently in frames on the wall...hence the poor reproduction.