Auld Lang Syne

Despite my adamant feelings about embracing Christmas for all its wonder, no matter my age, I struggle with New Years. I think it has something to do with the romantic, adolescent years when I longed for New Years to look and feel like idyllic, televised, Times Square. Instead it just looked like sparkling cider in my living room, and watching the ball drop on the glass screen of our tv. Then, in college, I could only picture the final scene of When Harry Met Sally. No matter how fabulous the New Years Eve party, it just can't live up to that scene.

The last two years were spent with lots of friends and themed dressing up. We ushered in 2011 with a Decade Party- I was clad in an awesome 1970s vintage, paisley and sequins find, and Jake wore a just-as-vintage track suit. He spent the night threatening to wear it at our wedding. The next morning we met back up with the same friends and a crew of us ran three miles to the ocean, and then polar-plunged. I'm third from the left with the guys, trying to look like I'm tough and won't whimper myself into the freezing water.

This year we're trying a new approach- travel. Today we're breaking out our passports and hitting the road north to Montreal. It's our last trip of 2011- the year in which we moved into our first apartment together, got married, and went on our honeymoon. I started grad school this year. We got a dog. We paid off some debt. I turned 25 and Jake turned 30. It was a big year. Time on the road will carve a space for reflection.

And it'll be our first trip of 2012- we're not coming back until Tuesday night. Three days of art museums, boutique European shops, Notre-Dame Basilica, and lots of French food. As for New Years Eve, I'll try to keep my expectations in check. Ice skating and champagne sound just lovely.

Happiest of New Years to you! Here is one of my favorite scenes of all time- what better way to end 2011?