I enjoyed the story. Especially since it is so true. The excitement and energy of letting go of the past and ushering in the new has faded. Not sure if its age, weather, social conditions, safety or complacency. My NYE is a home cooked steak dinner, a half bottle of champagne, maybe a cigar and then settled in with my dog around 10pm. She gets scared from the fireworks, that the township has banned. But there's always a neighbor or two with their stash.