What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
I’m going to ask this guy to a New Year’s Eve party, and I swear to everything that’s holy, if he doesn’t go, I am done with him. DONE! I mean, two-and-a-half months is plenty long enough for a man to make some overture of greater interest. No holding hands. No KISSING. What lukewarm-blooded-man doesn’t like kissing, for crying out loud? Dead men probably like kissing. Andra, calm down. Just send him an aloof e-mail acting like you really don’t care if he goes with you. Then, we can get all in a tizzy and be done with him. Okay?
OKAY?
In his fetching manner, he replied that he usually went out of the country for New Year‘s. Luckily for me, he continued, his passport was expired. Since he couldn’t go anywhere foreign and exotic, he might as well squire me to this soiree.
!
I hightailed it back to the mirror. What kind of freaking answer is THAT? OHMYGOD! He said YES! Does that mean he really likes me? Andra, this is madness. Pull yourself together. After all, you have nothing to wear. OHMYGOD! I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR! WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?! (Insane rifling through closet.) Ew, grandma. Doyoulikemedoyoulikemedoyoulikeme? Hello, I’m a hooker. Take me to bed or lose me forever, you big stud. NONONO. That will never do, Andra. Pull yourself together or you’re going to blow this date before it starts. Go buy a simple, demure black party skirt, because your crazy self is going to have to spend hours on the mammoth Coiffure Ritual of the Proper Southern Lady.
Somehow, I managed not to trip over my skirt as I made my entrance into the restaurant for our pre-party victuals. He seemed appreciative and attentive, but in his usual distant (maddening) way. I began to worry (despair) that this whole thing really was nothing, that it would never BE anything more than pleasant small-talk and casual flirting.
An hour into the party, something happened. The man held my hand. I stood there, not hearing a word some party-goer opposite me was saying as I played my blasted internal dialogue. Do not squeeze his hand too hard, Andra. It will look desperate. Stop flushing. You don’t want him to know how much you like holding his hand. OHMYGOD, I am orbiting planet earth because this man is HOLDING MY HAND. Stopitstopitstopit, Andra. You are an almost thirty-four-year-old woman. Act like a grown-up.
I don’t know how I managed to keep my hyperactive mind pulled together enough to convince him to kiss me at midnight. It should’ve been the last thing he wanted. But, he looked at me. For the first time in our almost three-month-long little tete-a-tete, he started my 2003 with the urgent hurricane of a kiss. It wiped my slate clean, swallowed my soul, and altered the trajectory of the orbit of my life.
It was some Happy New Year.
Whatever your celebrations hold tonight, I hope you find the swirling typhoon that propels you into 2012 with renewed purpose, a calm center, and the drive to make all your dreams come true. I’d love to know what you’re doing to celebrate if you care to share it in a comment today. Let’s rock 2012, everyone.
Now this really sums up the Andra we all know and love, a total CWAAAAZZZZZYYYYY person. I’m thinking that some of your distant Andra-Dites just might be guessing that you have embellished the story somewhat. Let me assure them that every little cwazzzziness in this story has got to be true,
Queen A does indeed fret the details when it comes to the Shadow Ninja, and what’s good for the rest of us is that he has actually calmed her down. WHEW!!
Now as to the New Years festivities for the lovely Miss TK and moi, we are planning on hiding at home from all the other cwazzzies out there. We’ll have some tidbits, a little champagne, some football, a little Dick Clark and try our best to stay awake until Midnight. We ARE SUCH PARTIERS!!!!
Lou, you know me so well. Yes, MTM did calm me down. Multiple people say that to my face with relish, most of them family.
I know we will be up, and WE WILL CALL YOU!!!!!! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Did I mention that we were going to be in the Midnight Boat Parade and the cell reception is iffy.
No. You did not. And, you are NOT.
Terrific post – We’re just headed over to another family’s place in our neighborhood for a little shindig. The number of kids at this party, including our 3, will outnumber the adults – and that makes me happy. Happy New Year Andra – and thanks for writing such an incredible blog each day. Rock on!
Chad, Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope everyone has a blast tonight.
One of my favorite movies is when Harry Met Sally, and they finally kiss and make up on New Year’s Eve (after Sally tells Harry that she really hates him.)
Well played, MTM, well played.
The fam is rocking the culdesac this year. We have nice, festive neighbors to celebrate with. (Think “Let’s Dance” on the Wii infused with booze).
I’m ready for the New Year and a new chapter. Happy New Year, Blog Lovers!
One of my favorite scenes and movies as well.
Please do a rocking dance for me. Happy New Year, Dear. xo
One of my all time favorite movies. Love this scene, and of course the diner scene is the one of the best movie scenes ever!!
Yes. The diner.
Love that Meg. So glad you found the video!
How on earth is it that when my email bearing your final post for 2011 arrives in the inbox at 6:01, Lou’s comment is Already? Attached? He truly must never sleep!!
You know what? I can relate 110% to this roller coaster ride of emotions!!! It’s an exquisite torture and most women, if they’re honest, will admit they’ve been there at one time or another. I remember the year, early in our relationship, when the “he” in my life decided to go to Florida for his winter vacation over the holidays. I envisioned a quiet, uneventful, probably boring New Years Eve at home with my boys and the TV hoopla (I was dating no one else at the time), and I was suffering similar self-doubts and frustrations — where WAS this relationship headed? Then the phone rang on the 31st and “he” announced we were going dancing — he’d decided, sort of last minute, that he’d get back (from the Keys) and driven several hours straight (he was a trucker, after all) so we could celebrate the commencement of the New Year together!! The following New Years Eve we were honeymooning in the Caribbean! Ah, the memories.
This year, as with most of the past many years, I’ll either manage to stay awake long enough to watch the ball drop over Times Square . . . or . . . I won’t!
In any case, I wish you, MTM, and the entire new circle of friends I’m making as a result of my delightful reconnection with you, all things bright and beautiful in the coming New Year. May it be the best year of our lives!
My bots are really in control, I’m just along for the ride.
http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/4188647/robots_movie_trailer.swfROBOTS: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: Robots, Halle Berry
Ah, now it is clear! I must learn to relinquish control!
For a chuckle, the bot (sort of) with whom I used to most identify: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eim5jLlEPYI
Karen, that is so funny….oops,
Great story, Karen. I am so glad some other woman will admit to being as cwaaaaaaaaaazy as me.
I am glad this old year brought me you, Karen. Happy 2012.
One time in my life I did the Right Thing at the Right Time…it couldn’t have been any better if it had been the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded in the World Series, because it certainly felt like I hit a Grand Slam! (just glad the crowd was a bit smaller).
-MTM (Magic Time at Midnight?)
A “grand slam”?! Dude, bad analogy….
Glad you two finally found each other though. And glad you made the right move. Couldn’t have worked out better if someone had architected the entire relationship.
Actually, it isn’t an analogy, Carnell.
I think he did architect the entire relationship, because he sure knew how to hook me.
Oooooo!! I am blushing. Well, not really. But I should be!
I don’t believe you ever blush.
I am positive you did not talk as much as Billy Crystal.
Some girls like talkie men.
Too many guys forget how to be a man now….two months and a huge lack of action, no wonder youre wondering about your upcoming year. Andra…if you were on my island, you wouldn’t worry about whether the guy you were with is going to kiss you…he’d already have you well aware that you’d be the belle of the ball…. Oh my…
From what I’ve read of you, I can’t picture you with someone as boring as you describe…maybe you need a vacation my way.
Have an amazing night…
T.
Must’ve worked, because I married him.
I love a good love story!
MTM! Now we truly know what your initials stand for! Was he really being stand-offish or is he shy?
What matters is that you two ended up here, helping us all muddle along day to day, getting a little wisdom here and there…and a whole lot of laughs!
I adore you both and wish you more kisses, hands held and joy ignited tonight and every day for the rest of time!
No, he was really stand-off-ish. I was one of those women who was drawn to that like a flies to……..well, bad analogy. But, you know what I mean.
Happy New Year, Bill and Cheryl!!
Happy New Year to you both!
Has anyone ever told you that you worry way too much?
I lost count of the actual number years ago.
Oh, and what am I doing tonight? Watching over my 15 year old son and his girlfriend. Making sure they do nothing I would do….
Party pooper.
Happy New Year. That’s got to be the best moment to find out ‘it’ is real. I accidentally fell so hard for the first guy I ever dated (I started late – I was 22) that we got married two years later. I think we both knew it was real within ten minutes of meeting, even though we both tried to backpedal from that.
Bill Smithem and I had the same knowledge of each other upon first sight. Our first date lasted 12 hours and we both were “pinching” ourselves mentally not sure if it was real. A second date the next day confirmed that yes, it was / is real…and we’re 8 years in now!
Jessie, I love stories like yours. You know when you know, and that’s the important thing.
Happy 2012 to you!!
What a great story! The anticipation must have been almost unbearable, Andra. I am happily spending New Year’s at McClellanville at a house party where we have been guests for, off and on, twenty years. It’s wonderful to be among close friends and reminisce about times past. Some of the group are on different spouses now but we have all managed to stay together for this magical weekend. Right now, the boys are working on a walkway project using a chain saw! Then, we’ll all troop up to the Santee Gun Club for a long walk and back to the house for a boat ride at the end of the afternoon. Oysters by an open pit and duck for dinner. Some of us might not see the clock strike twelve but in between now and then, new memories will be made. It really doesn’t get any better than this! Happy New Year to you and MTM – may all your dreams come true in 2012.
That sounds like heaven, Jill. If you’re in Charleston and not completely booked up, give me a call. I’d love to grab a coffee with you and give you and new year hug.
Ah, the fun and uncertainly that abides in the infancy of a relationship…
Thinking about it still makes the voices in my head a little whacked…….
True romance! I love that story >sigh<… Happy New Year!
Happy Writing for both of us! I am looking forward to hearing how your book develops.
What a sweet story Andra!
I am so happy for you and MTM. Katy and I will do our best to stay awake until midnight. Typically we wind up passed out before the big ball on Time Square makes it to the bottom. I guess we are boring these days. LOL… We will spend a quiet evening in front of the TV or Internet or both and I may have an adult beverage and listen to the fireworks and gun shots go off outside. It is hard to believe that 2011 is almost over. I hope that everyone has a safe and prosperous new year in 2012.
James, for those folks who are “not from ’round here”, on New Year’s Eve, at the stoke of Midnight and as the New Year dawns, Southerners shoot off guns…
James is not saying that the streets are lawless!
Oh my, did I paint a picture that looked like the wild wild west? Oooops… Well, no, not quite that bad. I am sure though, that some moron will point their firearm up in the air and crank off some rounds, clueless as to where they will end up. Maybe we will get lucky and no one will get hurt tonight… That would be a horrible way to start a new year huh?
All said with good humor! And like the Bedouins in the African desert, guns are pointed heavenward, and fired. Though many towns and cities are trying to get folks to stop that as those bullets do come down somewhere…
These days this happens mostly in the country and not in the city.
Reading this string makes me think I need to drive up to Florence and borrow Mom’s Beretta. Only, I would probably shoot myself in the foot with it, or worse. Oh well, a redneck girl can dream.
And just b/c no one else has done so, http://open.spotify.com/track/2pPuNt9XzSz79qnrCl5hBf
Diana Krall. Excellent selection, Cheryl.
I will be spending a relaxing evening with the love of my life. This is a constant year after year on NYE, although we do vary the location of said relaxation from time to time. This year it’s looking like we’ll be at home. A sicilian pizza and salad sounds great for dinner, too. Happy New Year to all of you, I wish each of you great wonder, prosperity, and peace. Special thanks to Andra for bringing us all together daily in this space.
Liz, that sounds perfect. I am glad so many people are sharing what they’re doing, because I am going to enjoy knowing what you’re all doing as the clock strikes midnight. There’s nothing better than ringing in a New Year with thoughts of people we care about on our minds and in our hearts.
Thank goodness for expired passports, eh?
Hope you have a Happy Hootchie Cootchie New Year tonight . . . full of holding hands and hurricane kisses!
Thanks Nancy. Happy New Year to you and your BFF. May you have LOTS of chocolate.
You just made me sigh.