Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
This is the first time since my Mom started letting me stay up for New year's Eve (probably, when I was 3) that I did not stay up to bring in the New Year.
I had wanted to and I was telling Mary that she can stay up till midnight. (She was so happy about it, she run out and told her Daddy--- I don't think she really knew what it meant.) Mary was asleep by 9:30 pm and I was asleep by 10:00 pm.
In the Philippines where I grew up, nobody can sleep or stay asleep at midnight. Unless one has a soundproof room, one can;t help but hear the firecrackers all over the city. On and off throughout the evening, intensifying as midnight approaches and a series of big bangs at just about midnight. I miss this part of New Year's Eve. Nothing quite like it in the other parts of the world that I have been in on New Year's Eve.
Maybe, next year I will take Mary to experience this- she will be 5 1/2, she would love it!
Today, I decided to do with Mary something I read in a magazine--- as an activity for New Year's Day. Mary and I wrote letters to ourselves and to each other. We will open them 10 years from now. Mary knows how to write letters but not form words yet so I helped her spell out the words. My handwriting is so bad that I hope I will be able to read my letter 10 years from now. I asked Jack to do it as well bu he has not done them yet. He did suggest that I take photos of myself, the house, etc and put in the envelope--- sort of like a time capsule. I also put in a dollar bill and some coins. Now I just have to make sure I keep the letters in a safe place.
This is the first time since my Mom started letting me stay up for New year's Eve (probably, when I was 3) that I did not stay up to bring in the New Year.
I had wanted to and I was telling Mary that she can stay up till midnight. (She was so happy about it, she run out and told her Daddy--- I don't think she really knew what it meant.) Mary was asleep by 9:30 pm and I was asleep by 10:00 pm.
In the Philippines where I grew up, nobody can sleep or stay asleep at midnight. Unless one has a soundproof room, one can;t help but hear the firecrackers all over the city. On and off throughout the evening, intensifying as midnight approaches and a series of big bangs at just about midnight. I miss this part of New Year's Eve. Nothing quite like it in the other parts of the world that I have been in on New Year's Eve.
Maybe, next year I will take Mary to experience this- she will be 5 1/2, she would love it!
Today, I decided to do with Mary something I read in a magazine--- as an activity for New Year's Day. Mary and I wrote letters to ourselves and to each other. We will open them 10 years from now. Mary knows how to write letters but not form words yet so I helped her spell out the words. My handwriting is so bad that I hope I will be able to read my letter 10 years from now. I asked Jack to do it as well bu he has not done them yet. He did suggest that I take photos of myself, the house, etc and put in the envelope--- sort of like a time capsule. I also put in a dollar bill and some coins. Now I just have to make sure I keep the letters in a safe place.
