Here it is New Year's Eve. I have experienced a lot of them. The earliest ones I remember were during World War ll. Being a teenager during wartime was no fun. Celebrations had changed, were cut back or eliminated. My folks tried to keep some in place to give us a normal home life. Dad, in his forties, hadn't been drafted since he worked in a defense plant. Our family was intact, but not much else was.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were big holiday meals and so was New Year's Day. Pork and sauerkraut were required in our house to ensure a prosperous year. Around here it's black-eyed peas and greens. I like sauerkraut: black eyed peas, not so much. Can you imagine putting on a big dinner after a night of partying? We did.

Speaking of partying, a new dress was a requirement for the evening. They came on the market soon after Thanksgiving. I was sure to lay mine away while there was still a good selection. I haven't seen ads for New Year's Eve party dresses in the newspapers in years. Times have changed. Does anyone sing Auld Lang Syne anymore?

What about paper party hats and noisemakers? You know, the kind that when you blew on the mouthpiece, it unrolled and made a noise. Some, you just twisted around and around. Noisemakers were a requirement for ball-dropping time. Do stores still sell them?

Motorists blew their horns and church bells rang at the midnight hour. I haven't heard church bells in years. The two most difficult war years of 1942 and 1943 were marked by fireworks. There was no Times Square ball drop during those years.

One thing that hasn't changed is the “Polar Plunge.” On New Year's Day, television will have at least one display of swimsuit-clad males diving into icy waters. They don't stay long. He's out, wrapped in a blanket and headed for the nearest shelter. Women know better.

Another thing that hasn't changed is the making of New Year's Resolutions. They were serious back then not so now. The newspaper was full of suggestions. I think I only made a resolution twice, two different years, not in a row. I was skinny as a pole bean back then, so it wasn't to diet, probably to quit smoking. I did quit, but not as part of any resolution. Now, as a born-again Christian I find other ways to celebrate. Alcohol and cigarettes no longer hold any interest for me.

However, I can make as many resolutions as I want. After all, they expire on January 17th. How do I know that? I read it somewhere, so it must be true.

10 - 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!