This year I found myself just floating through the holidays, whether it was the economy, working 12 hour days, or just a blandness that seemed to filter through the air. I was determined to get that old holiday spirit back even if I had to have three ghosts visit me on Christmas Eve.
As I get older I find that holidays are really for children and there is emptiness when you take Christ out of Christmas. Trust me this is quite shocking for me and anyone who knows me knows how much I used to LOVE presents! But as you get older and you have everything you really need holidays really do become about the feelings.
This year my cousin’s eight year daughter was in a church pageant and played an angel. I sat in the church from 2 o’clock until 5, and listened to all the religious Christmas songs. Whether it’s old age, or new age awareness, but I listened to the songs and let the words sink in as they were sung. “Joy to the World”, written in 1719, mentions having “heaven and nature sing”. I sat thinking creating a relationship between heaven and earth was conversation that far back! Amazing! Watching the first Christmas being re-created by little second and third graders brought a smile to my heart and started adding color to my bland spirit. Christmas morning found me exchanging gifts with family and getting caught up in a hot, feverish game of Trouble with my cousins five year old. I needed to pop a 6 to win and was so disappointed when a 2 appeared. Seeing my disappointment my cousin’s kid took the game and flipped it over and shook it. “What are you doing?” I asked as I gathered the pieces that flew when he flipped the game over. “I’m trying to get you a 6.” My holiday spirit was completed. Children and religion do have a place in Christmas, a good place.
Every holiday season I swear to myself that I am not going to get caught up in the New Years Eve insanity! You know the last minute hopes of love and trying to find a date to kiss at midnight – a true love that will last the whole year long- and every December 31st I find myself hunting out a victim to give me my 12:00 kiss… and every 12:02 I have to ask, “What’s your name again?” - real meaningful.
As I entered Club Feathers I started soaking up the melancholy mood New Years Eve brings, painfully aware not to go to deep fearing the present will be overshadowed by the last years regret, but that won’t happen Tony Mona just entered snapping me back to the laughs this evening has in store. I have spent so many New Years Eves at Club Feathers, but this year was filled with excitement and smiles! Everyone walked in happy to be there and went that extra step to be kind and bubbly! There was an “Antonio Cedeno” mood in the air and everyone was catching it! Lady Tita was playing in the downstairs lounge and set the high energy mood from the moment the guest entered the club. Added to the energy was the sweet aroma of Chef John Rizzo’s to die for buffet! Mouth-watering doesn’t come close to describing the presentation and taste of the food that was offered.
It still baffles me that a club can offer such a GREAT buffet and open bar and breakfast all for $40.00! When I worked there people actually complained about the price saying, I don’t drink that much liquor! I would respond “Go buy a six pack and stay parked in your driveway.”
Eddie and his wonderful staff were in high spirits and greeting guest as they entered. Eddie, the manager, welcomed old timers and gave them a tour of all the changes that occurred through the year. DJ John Rizzo had the dance floor packed early and kept them dancing until Antonio Cedeno and Tony Mona came out to ring in the New Year! The balloons dropped and the champagne corks popped! Kisses hugs and handshakes were running wild…yes a hand shake. I waited all year for a midnight handshake on New Year’s Eve! I started chatting with a customer that I had known for years but never talked to-I decided to chat with him this night. We started hitting it off and before I knew it the countdown began. I wasn’t sure what to do and at 12:00 we looked at each other with magic in our eyes and he threw out his hand shook mine.
We chatted a little longer and then I excused myself to go to the restroom-actually I was casing the joint to see if there was anything better than Mr. Handshake.- there wasn’t. So I went back and he wasn’t there! The nerve! I joined Tony Mona to find out that the entertainment showed up and was about to begin! What a TERRIFIC show! I was really surprised! JIPSTA & SANDY B were GREAT! Jipsta is a talent to keep your eye on- if you missed him, your loss.
I left the club as the donuts and coffee was being served- a person can only allow themselves so much excitement. What a wonderful way to ring in the New Year, and hey a handshake just lets me know that the only way to go is up! Did you hear that single men!?
