Aftermath of New Year's Eve Celebrations!

It occurred to me that I have celebrated New Year's eve these past two years with too much differences that a gawking eagle can spot easily, and that for those interested on these events highlight the fun and value of taking time to celebrate these holidays on an annual basis. Indulge me again as I relate my experiences.

During 2007 new year's eve, I was with another friend, a woman, who brought me to a church somewhere in Far Rockaway , in the borders of New York city. We met up someplace as she picked me up at the end of the "F" line in Queens, and proceeded to the church. But it took us a while to finally find the place, but the excitement didn't stop there. I soon found myself, being the sole Asian-looking person inside the church mainly attended by blacks. My friend, herself, is Cuban-Italian, and she became one of 4 Caucasian looking persons inside that evening. She was personally invited by the wife of the pastor with whom she would be seated with on several bus rides to NYC from their suburban houses, hence they got to know each other.

Being a newbie, I never had an idea of what would be taking place the rest of the evening where we waited for the new year's day to unfold in that humble but homely setting of a church. We were asked to partake in the dinner provided by the church for the new year's eve; we had grilled chicken, rice, greens, soda, plus cakes and sweets. I was full by the time the services started. We had the dinner in a separate building, as the church was then starting to have renovation works to make it bigger and wider to provide for the increasing number of members.

Then everybody went back in the Church, and the services started. It turned out to be one best new year's evening celebrations I've had in memory. The choir, made up of a few people, not more than 8 people at any point in time, would be standing in side in the front, and everybody in attendance would be joyfully participating in the singing; they would be clapping and calling up names every now & then. People knew each other names, it seems. I've never seen something like this, and this experience would not even approximate what's being shown or depicted in movies. Something in the presence of the Holy Spirit makes everyone gets lifted & soaring high, so to say. I felt one with the community.

But there's simple awkwardness, and honesty in everyone I've met there in that Church, as I was among the few minority that night, but this time, I'm among blacks. They were not snobbish, nor extra friendly to me, but I felt at home and safe. These are church going people. I focused on listening to the singing...nothing like it, including listening to their version of "Amazing Grace." I noticed how some people would be asked to join in front, and they'd be gladly walking upfront. I felt shy myself when I was called up to be recognized & be given appreciation for being around that time with them.

At least 25 songs were sung that night as we waited for 2008. In one of the songs, choirmembers realized they were out of tune (I would have not noticed, actually), so they stopped immediately. Then momentarily gathered together, and worked on getting the right tune, just like a practicing group of chorus line. The congregation was supportive and not even hissing at all; they just patiently waited for the choir to continue with its work. After less than 5 minutes, the choir was back in tune, then into lively, community singing. I couldn't remember the songs, but the tunes were black, (or it could be described in a better way, perhaps), and of course, gospel ones. So much positive energy enervated in the church that night; I came to figure out why these community meetings in a religious format can be a source of motivation to remain strong and brave amidst life's difficulties. I felt so grateful, having been given this opportunity. Now I would be listening to black tunes someplace, but there's some absence of raw, joyful, soulful energy that I detect; perhaps it's the observation that these songs are meant to be sung with other members of community. The focus mainly of commercial songs is most probably to highlight the power of the individual voice, versus that of a group. Yet then again, what else can I say more about these happenings?

For 2008 new year's evening, I stoically stood in 49th St and Broadway in Times Square with a huge, patient crowd. My friend who was visiting from Nevada for the holidays thought it's best to experience this one time, at least. I was in the site at least 3 years ago but I left just before the dropping of the ball. As during that time, I could not believe the terrible conditions people had to endure just to be in that location on new year's eve, hence I decided to leave just before the dropping of the ball.

But in 2008, I bravely waited. The weather's freezing (at 13 degrees Fahrenheit!), and it's an understatement---we were slowly dying because of being outside at that point for hours! My camera failed to work after a few shots! A woman decided she could not stand being in such woeful conditions, as she enumerated her woes which sounded so true to everyone that night, so she opted to leave at least 1 hour before the dropping of the ball. But her boyfriend who stayed in the same spot just kept on egging her to go back with him, and he eventually succeeded. Being lovers plus the power of romance, indeed, worked doubly that night. They were just directly in my back, so I could hear out every line muttered, just like everyone else in that spot.

We had to rely on the presence of each other just to keep ourselves warm, despite thick warm clothing we had that night. Of course, you would just have to help yourself. I remember telling my friend that it's actually just best to even get your hands cupping your balls (at least for men) just to get enough body warmth---we would do this when I was still doing mountaineering. But it would certainly be too much to be caught doing such in a very public place like that LOL.

And we waited for the next 2 hours standing there, having been able to get dinner in a Japanese restaurant before we braved the crowds who were wanting to be foolishly around in Times Square for the dropping of the ball. I was amazed I managed not to get the need to go to the restroom. Actually, I noticed it's way easier to get in the enclosed streets, but it's doubly difficult to get out once you decided you'd had enough. The policemen were just working as hard as everyone in the crowd, policing and ensuring everything was in order. I heard from some colleagues on mine that people from buildings would throw out anything to the crowd, hence may probably cause hurting someone, or death, at worst. But that night, some people were just throwing invectives out loud. If only you could hear all those unprintable words now! Watch what I crudely recorded using my celfone during the countdown to 2009 somewhere here in this posting.

However, if in case you'd find the need for being there during the dropping of the ball event, it's best to get yourself a reservation in one of those restaurants that have a view of the 42nd St and Broadway. I learned later that "Olive Garden" started selling reservations enough for all its seats immediately after Thanksgiving Day, which would have given yourself buffet, drinks and respectable space just to get inside and view everything that's happening outside, for a fee (of course!) on new year's eve. But the trouble really is how to get yourself literally swimming just to get to your destination in the enclosed streets. You'd be messed up with such a number of people who'd be with everyone else. Or you would rather choose to watch everything on TV. I'd still say, the experience's been really worth it. You sort of, live to tell the experience.

The aftermath of such celebrations was overshadowed by other events that followed. For failure to keep in touch on my part, I no longer talk that much with that friend who brought me to that church attended mostly by blacks (nothing compares with that that once-in-a-lifetime experience, though). For seizing up my insecurities as I felt having been looked down repeatedly again, I ceased to talk again with that other friend who was with me in Times Square. However, I had a poignant experience just after I saw my friend to the airport on the day he was flying back to Nevada. I waited just at the lobby of the JFK AirTrain. I sat for a while, deciding to wait, just in case there would be changes, as we assumed we were late for my friend's flight that early Sunday morning. A small, smart looking Filipina sat a seat away from me. She just looked at me, rather in an unfriendly way, not typical of a Filipina. I heard her talking in Tagalog, asking for small chitchat news from one of her friends about a newbie from the Philipines who's got a new job here in the US. Then I decided to say "Happy New Year, kabayan (literally: countryman)!" She was caught surprised when I greeted her, and then proceeded to talk with me. She thought I was someone from South America, as she volunteered to tell me she's staying somewhere in Long Island. Without much ado, she then asked me to take her picture, touting a ready digital camera from her bag. I happily took her photos, as she stood in front of the lovely Christmas Tree that was restricted from entry by cords from the usual passers-by and crowds. I just laughed way out loud to myself; I remember in my heart having known how most Filipinos have such simple joys in their hearts; they just turn to become way happier by engaging in such folksy, warm, down-to-earth delights!