One of America’s long-standing traditions is not happening this year. And that is probably a good thing.
For longer than anybody can imagine, people have been gathering in large crowds to celebrate the New Year. Obviously, Times Square in New York is the epicenter for such large celebrations and the focus of virtually all network programming in the hours and minutes counting down to midnight.
Don’t get me wrong; celebrating New Year’s Eve in some manner is a good thing. Staying up until midnight to celebrate the new beginnings of a new year is not a bad thing at all. Especially as we end 2020 and we make sure that it finally ends on time.
And it’s always better to do it from the safety of your private residence.
Do you realize how many people attend the Ball Drop in Times Square? In non-pandemic years, it’s in excess of ONE MILLION PEOPLE. In order to see anything on New Year’s Eve, you must arrive hours early and stand out in the cold with no access to food, no access to drink, no access to warmth, and no access to a bathroom. Even when the event is over, now you have to wait to get out of whatever corrals that herd you into so you can get out of there and access to all of those things that you have no had for hours upon end.
Your reward for this? Maybe the opportunity to see the ball drop. From a distance.
Seriously, does this look like a good time to you?
Just what I want to do, spend hours on end bumped up to strangers with no access to any modern comforts, all so I can watch an electronic ball drop.
Other cities do such nonsense too, of course. Baltimore and many other cities, for example, have large downtown fireworks displays. That doesn’t make the hassle of getting there any more rewarding.
You know where I have a great view of the ball dropping in Times Square or the Inner Harbor Fireworks? On my flat screen at home.
Getting together to celebrate New Year’s in a private home? That’s good. Hang out with friends, watch the Texas Bowl, play charades, eat a cheese ball, whatever you want to do*. But hanging out in a public place, huddled together in the cold is a goofy way to spend any amount of time, much less to celebrate the end of the year. Maybe, just maybe, one positive of COVID is that we eliminate this nutty concept once and for all**
* Whatever you do, don’t let drinking and driving be part of that plan. If you choose poorly, contact the Law Office of Gregory M. Kline.
** I have no faith in this happening.
It's been years since I "celebrated" by going out and watching New Years Eve events.... I agree, it's nice to ring in a new year amongst a small group of friends. Happy New Year Brian