I know every family has their own Christmas traditions, but it seems like my family's are a bit more rigid than some. From Christmas Eve on, what we eat, what we do, where we go, where we sleep, what time we wake up, the order in which we open presents have all been cemented by years of repetition.
Our New Year's Eve traditions are far less set in stone because, well, we don't have any. Growing up celebrating New Year's consisting of staying up till midnight and banging pots and pans. Which is cool. But far less exciting than what goes on at Christmas.
How many years does it take for something to become tradition?
Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, January 1, 2011
I spent the beginning of last year in San Diego with some dear friends, Jackie, Deena and Chip, and Afton. Back in September or October, Chip and Deena and I talked about making a repeat trip for New Year's 2012. Sadly, Afton and Jackie weren't as enthused about creating this annual tradition but Chip and Deena were.
This year, instead of heading straight to San Diego -- where Deena's folks have a condo -- we decided to make a New Year's Eve pit stop at the happiest place on earth.
Disneyland, Anaheim, California, January 1, 2012. Note the empty medical stretcher in the background.
I hadn't been to Disneyland since 2004 so it was great to be back, even if the crowds were among the most dense I've seen anywhere.
Sunday was quite a lazy day but I didn't mind as it gave me time to start rereading one my favorite books.
I don't understand why more people don't love this book as much as I do.
Monday before heading back we had breakfast on the beach, did some shopping and spent a bit of time downtown. Here I am at the Ghirardelli shop enjoying an overpriced butterscotch sundae:
Slowly eating my way to diabetes.
I suppose time will tell whether or not this trip becomes an annual New Year's tradition. I certainly won't mind if it does as I have yet to have a bad time in Southern California.
That crowd did not equate bad time? Explain that to Brad for me, would ya? He won't believe me.
ReplyDeleteI miss that Ghirardelli's. I use to go there once a week when I lived in San Diego. I still haven't shaken off the extra pounds it earned me.
ReplyDeleteI WAS AT DISNEYLAND TOO!!!
ReplyDeletePlease make this a tradition for us. And by "us" I mean you, me, and Camaron. Trust me, you two will be great friends and can ride Star Tours over and over to your hearts content. I love Disney at New Year's
ReplyDeleteIn my family traditions start the day you say something is a tradition. For example one Easter years ago: "Dad why do we have to play croquet today?" "It's tradition. We play every Easter." We hadn't played any previous Easters, but did every subsequent one.
ReplyDeleteSo I think this Southern California New Years things can definitely be considered a tradition.
Lucky you. My New Years is still of the pots and pans variation.
Thanks for reminding me about Cannery Row. I'll have to add that to my must-read list. Steinbeck is brilliant. Truly.
ReplyDelete