Happy Blue Year!

Our town hosted a fantastic New Year's Eve celebration in the buildings surrounding City Hall. I took Emma, Elise, James and Samuel; Kyle wanted nothing to do with it, and Jeff said he had work to do. There were carnival games and prizes at the elementary school, fire cans and music in the parking lots, story-telling at the library, burgers and hot dogs at the rec. center, and more, more, more. It was all free! The carnival games were staffed by gentle, polite youths who had smiles for even irritable Samuel. The whole operation had a friendly, community vibe. Awesome.

At the elementary school we waited in line for face painting behind a bunch of excitable teenage boys. (Because nothing says COOL and attracts the ladies like painted faces! At the kiddie carnival!) When James saw that they were all getting dolled up like the movie Avatar, he wanted to follow suit. I asked the face painter, "So, how many Avatar faces have you done tonight?" About seven, he said. I counted the group of young men now leaving through the front doors. Ah, so just their group. And James. We later ran into this Blue Boy Group in the food building. I couldn't help but chuckle when the leader stared at James with a pained look, as if he had stolen their thunder.

It was a fun night, but after hours of solo greco-Sam wrestling, I was ready to go. Battered black and blue. 


Back home I promised the older children they still could stay up until midnight, if they wanted. Once in a blue moon. They were thrilled. Kyle had, by this time, gone to a friend's house. I got Samuel to bed and tended to laundry and dishes while the kids started games. When I passed by my room I was stunned and hurt to see that Jeff had already gone to bed. What? Without saying goodnight? On New Year's Eve no less?


So that's how I entered 2010, feeling blue.


Today I've thought of lots of ways blue makes it into our language. Blue states and blue plates. Talking a blue streak. Shouting till he's blue in the face. Men in blue. Singing the blues. 


You know what? Blue is actually my favorite color.

One of my most pressing New Year's resolutions is to search for the bright side in everything, like seeing dishes and laundry for the bounty they represent. Seeing not a lump beneath blankets, but a hard-working husband who just needed his rest. That's all. The brightest side is knowing his love for me extends well beyond an 11:59 command-performance embrace. I really am a lucky gal.

I wish all of you a wondrous 2010, filled with blue skies, or vistas of whatever color you hold dear.

Happy New Year!