Happy New Year

Before heading out to Chinatown today, we were wise enough to check the weather forecast. It predicted winds at 20 to 40mph and bitter cold temperatures.
We looked outside. It was a balmy 51 degrees, sun shining, birds singing.
We did not believe the forecast.
At the last minute, DH talked me into taking my coat. I did not take the lining nor my gloves.
We froze our ***** off.

We arrived about 2 hours before the parade began. We stopped into a small Chinese restaurant right on the route and ate. Four kids, four adults. It was a tiny, narrow alley of a restaurant, 2 steps down from the sidewalk. Several tables were occupied by Chinese -- a very good sign! We ordered a simple lunch -- egg rolls, soup and shrimp fried rice for all. Immediate hot tea.

We ate til we were full -- all eight of us -- and split the $40 tab down the middle. Cheap, good, filling meal. We proceeded outside to stake our tiny piece of real estate at the yellow tape, right at the street.

As we waited, we saw and heard people as they excitedly awaited the parade. Many languages. Color and smells and loud firecrackers assaulted our senses. And, of course, the bitter cold.

DS2 has sewn a fleece bag for DGD's stroller. It snaps into the seat back of the stroller and hangs down for her legs and feet to keep them warm. Ingenious. He even built in buttonholes for her seat belt to come through. She had on a dress, pants, a heavy coat, a hat, her hood, gloves, the leg sack, and a blanket, and cried because of the cold.

The dragons bob and weave and dance to drums beat by cold and smiling people.

I really like this NY celebration much, much better than our traditional NY celebrations. For one thing, children are included. It's held in the middle of the day. It's wholesome. It's not centered around alcohol. No one dressed up. That is, no one, bought expensive outfits. No champagne. It was a family-centered and wholesome event.

I remarked that I was glad it was so cold -- we will always remember it. I was lying!