Welcome 2010!

Well, I will always remember what I was doing when we rang in 2010. See, my Sweetie isn't home much on holidays, so when he is, we try to do something to etch it out in our memory.
This year on Dec. 31st we decided to go experience a New Year party. Now, what kind of party can you go to with two children? We braved the biggest one in Nashville! We went to watch the guitar drop in downtown Nashville, TN at the Hard Rock Cafe. We got there around 930 p.m. We parked several blocks away so when the drop was over, we could go. We had no desire to hang around for the drinking party part.
Last year a club in Nashville had a guitar drop, and it was so popular they decided to get with the city planners and make it a bigger event. (or so I was told by one of the supposed committee members last night. We wanted to be able to say we were part of the first guitar drop in downtown Nashville.
There were folks everywhere! There were bands that got up and played everything from jazz to rock n roll. There were New Year hats that lit up, were poofy with feathers, and some that were just big. Horns were blowing and confetti littered the streets well before the famous countdown. Needless to say there were a few partiers that had already reached their limit of alcohol. The police officers waded through the crowd to keep tabs on the rowdie ones and to remove those that were ruining it for the rest of us. We were able to observe more folks that were just there to be there, than were drinking. That was pretty cool. THe family behind us and over to the left was in from Oklahoma, and they had friends from Arkansas that had come in just for this event. There was a couple in front of us that were in from Washington and were driving home after this, so they wouldn't be drinking. Lots of kids were around so the boys had plenty to do and see.
I think had Sweetie and I been on our own, we wouldn't have paid as much attention as we did having the boys with us. For instance, there was a guy that kept waving his whiskey bottle around and screaming. Go figure he would be close to us. We, and the other parents around gathered our children in close and kept this "gentleman" at bay. Folks were pushing and shoving. We were able to get out of that as the crowds closed in. We heard from a news crew that crowds reached all the way back up to the Sommet Center! WOW!
The boys learned some valuable lessons watching several of the partiers last night. Neat thing is, we didn't have to point them out. While they enjoyed being part of the big countdown, they both, in their own way, now know why we don't party like these others. Our middleschooler nailed it when he said, " at least I will remember in the morning what I said and did." No truer words have been spoken!
There were some college boys that embarrassed themselves and folks around them. Sad thing is most of them will not remember. Hopefully these folks all had designated drivers.
The slow at times wade back through the crowds was a task! But we laughed our way through it. Laughter is something that just happens (in spite of ourselves) when you people watch. And we had lots of opportunities for that last night! Wow. Seriously, it was chilly last night. We were standing there in our layers, toasty warm, while others (like the gal in a too short skirt and sleeveless top, the shirtless college boys, or the country boys in their overalls and tshirts).
IT was an experience we may never do again. However, the lessons learned and the time together was truly priceless! Happy New Year!