Tonight we attend a family party at the home of friends. Granddaughters wear sparkly outfits to welcome the new year. Daughters and I do our part. Guys wear jeans.
To support the theme of world celebrations, our family leader chooses Brazil to celebrate at nine o'clock MN time. We research traditions and download bossa nova samba music (the girl from Ipanema Beach will freeze her maracas if she passes by in this frigid weather). The kitchen smells of baking sweets and pork snacks. Our fruit tray resembles Carmen Miranda's headdress. We have flowers to cast into waves on the beach (snow? water?) A bowl of raisins ensures that each guest will have the opportunity to eat seven of them before midnight for good luck. The drink is caipirinha, but instead of Brazilian cachaca we use Tito's vodka for adults and ginger ale for children. We muddle the limes with sugar and realize we must add copious amounts of ice at serving time or risk muddling party brains (use shot glasses? tiny plastic cups?). None of us have white clothing to wear so we ignore that very important piece of tradition and hope for a great year/party anyhow.
Party revelers need little encouragement to participate in our Brazilian time zone. I manage to catch Pawpaw and our younger daughter dancing in the conga line, but speed works against me. That or my iPhone imbibed caipirinha when I wasn't looking.
Children have the basement to themselves and surface for drinks, food, and dancing (girls, not boys).
By evening's champagne end we look forward to a good rest and congratulate ourselves for bringing in the new year together. We are also grateful for the blessings of family and dear friends.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night!
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