I thought it was appropriate to show a picture of me and John from New Years Eve. John is kinda one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog.
John passed away over a year ago and people still have no idea. He had cancer and it ate away at him for over two years. The kid bartended to the very end. A very sad and bitter end...John.
The first time I met John was in 1980 something. He was 18 years old, how do I know this? Well, Big Sal and Frankie invited me to a brunch where we met up with Richie and his date-John. John was a big hit, he kinda looked like a John Stamos double, and became a regular at the bar. (Mind you back in the day "the bar" was a code for Feathers. We were so closeted that we spoke in code over the phone in case anyone was listening. To this day I still call it, the bar) One brunch day I went with him to the store for cigarettes and saw these cards scattered on his back seat. I went to straighten them out and saw they were his high school graduation cards! I was sworn to secrecy and so started a friendship that had more ups and downs than the San Fransisco earthquake richter scale reading.

New Years Eve...Everyone anticipates a new year and makes new dreams and hopes. The person you kiss at midnight is the person you spend the whole year with. I could step on that myth...Johnny.

But the new year thing is really something to grab on to! At 12 o'clock on January 1 you can decide how your next year is going to be. It is all up to you! I am determined to make this year a success and I will leave no opportunity unturned to make that prediction come true. Think about it, everyone has the chance to be a success- you just have to focus and go for it! It is just as easy to succeed as it is to fail.

Back in the '80's New Year's Eve at Feathers meant new out-fits, big tips and a long line at the pay phone. Everyone had to be quiet because our parents couldn't know we were at a "gay bar". Why we thought sound and voices and music would give it away escapes me at my old age. What were we thinking- actually I don't think we were thinking. We were just partying and living a privilege life considering our age.

Feathers always had the open bar, hot buffet, dancers, party favors and midnight champagne toast all for some ridiculous price of twenty five to thirty dollars. It never failed that a few prize packages would show up. During the count-down to twelve, while we were pouring the champagne, someone would come and order drinks! "One moment please." "I need them now!" they would demand. "I have to pour the champagne" I would reply without losing my temper. "I don't want champagne I want my drinks! Now!" Happy New Year!
So much for the positive new year.
There were a few years that a group of us would go down to Fort Laudedale for New Years Eve. It was like being at the bar. We saw the same faces and people. It was kinda fun. Imagine being on a beach in Florida and having people recognize you from Jersey. Many of my new year's started with sunrises on the beach.
Last year was my first New Years Eve off in many years. I had no idea what to do with myself. I ended up at the bar.