Trip, yes; but no tattoos”Maybe it’s much too early in the game, Oh, but I thought I’d ask you just the same. What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve?” (Lyrics by Rufus Wainwright).
Most of us plan something for New Year’s Eve, whether it’s a big party at a local club, or just a snack tray and a good video in front of the TV. I don’t think there’s anyone who has not watched Dick Clark ring in the New Year in Times Square, but I have a close friend who will actually be there this year when the ball drops at midnight. My cousin-by-marriage said she always wanted to be in Times Square for New Year’s Eve the year she turned 50. Well, 50 she turned last June and to New York she’s heading on Dec. 31. She’ll be spending two nights at the Hilton Times Square Hotel, and be among the crowds gathering there throughout the day, waiting for midnight, and the year 2003. She’s telling everyone to make sure they look for the sign she’ll be holding up, proclaiming she’s from Monessen, Pa. When I tell people about Sandy’s plans, the general consensus is “Why does she want to do that?” My brother said he’d frankly rather have a sharp stick poked in his eye that be in that crush of people.
I can do without the sharp stick, but I don’t want to be there either. But if she does, then I say, “Why not?” I never thought much about turning 50, but apparently it must be a benchmark age to do something you’ve never done before. I have another close friend who got a butterfly tattoo for her 50th birthday (the butterfly having a personal, spiritual meaning for her). I heard of another woman taking a hot air balloon ride. Under no circumstances, at any age, do I want to get a tattoo. Getting my ears pierced when I turned 21 was enough body modification for me. A hot air balloon ride would be fun, but not something that holds any special meaning for me.
I suppose it’s not so much what you do, as what holds meaning for you. Maybe it’s not even the actual fact of turning 50, but realizing that as you’re growing older, you had better take the time to do the things you’ve always meant to do. My brother moved his family to Indiana in the early 1960’s for a job in the steel mills, and due to the long drive, winter weather, and not wanting to disrupt their children’s holiday, they have never since spent a Christmas here in Pennsylvania. The children are all grown now with children of their own. I correspond regularly with my nieces, and I always feel a pang of longing when they describe the big family parties. We visit at different times during the year, but I’ve never been to one of those Christmas Eve gatherings (or birthday parties, or Halloween bonfires).
Maybe it’s my own 50th birthday creeping up on me, but I suddenly realized that my only remaining brother will be 64 by next Christmas, and I want to be there with him and all his family, at least for one time. Oh, I’ll still see my own children too, but we can adjust for one year. My oldest son and his family live far away, so we’ll visit either before or after Christmas, as we did this year. My younger son has a lovely girlfriend and lots of other family living here he can spend the day itself with, and we’ll have our celebration after Christmas. But I’ve decided that this visit is important to me.
For New Year’s Eve this year, I’ll probably spend it quietly as I usually do. But for sure I’ll be watching TV, straining my eyes to see a blonde lady holding up a sign reading “Monessen, Pa.” in a huge crowd of people. As far as my 50th birthday, well. I’ve got about 15 months to decide what I’ll do.
Maybe a trip somewhere exotic I’ve always wanted to visit? But please, no tattoos.
Cathy Hajdu
Uniontown