Our friends at the beach have an annual New Year’s Eve party. Some of the guests we only see this one time of year, but we all greet each other as old friends and love to catch up. The party is casual and kid-friendly and so much fun. Our friends have hosted this party for over a decade. I can’t imagine ringing in the New Year any other way.
Sarah Sullivan
Florida Coastal School of Law
One of my favorite New Year memories occurred during law school in 2010.
My wife (then girlfriend — we married on New Year’s Eve 2011 in Key West
by the way — also a fantastic memory) and I were visiting family in Kentucky when on Dec. 29 we spontaneously decided to watch the ball drop in Times Square with my wife’s two nieces. We called and found a room at the Stand hotel in the Design District and off we went on Dec. 30.
We stopped in Pennsylvania on the night of the 30th and drove into Manhattan on the 31st about 10 a.m. Once we were oriented, we positioned ourselves by the ball in Times Square about noon. The four of us stood there in that spot without food, water or bathroom until shortly after midnight.
About 3 p.m. the police blocked off our area and similarly blocked off areas about every hour until we were about three or so levels in from the outermost blocked-off area. To leave our position would have been to sacrifice our perfect spot near the ball.
We just stood there for over 12 hours freezing, thirsty and hungry. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever done on New Year’s Eve.
Following the ball drop, we tried to go to the McDonald's near our spot to use the restroom, but they would not let us in to merely use the restroom and the food line was too long. We had to walk a mile or so back to the hotel to finally use the restroom.
The next day, my wife and I drove her nieces to JFK airport and we headed back to law school in Virginia.