New Year's Eve 2012...

The New Year has officially begun.  2011 is past, and 2012 is here.  A new year with new beginnings.  The days stretch out before us, and it is up to each of us to make of them what we will.  Throughout the days there will be things that occur in our lives that influence us, but inevitably the choices are ours.  I have things I want to accomplish in the coming months.  All I have to do is want them, and will them into being.  Creative projects all.  The seeds are there in my mind.  I just have to nurture them, so they will germinate.

2012 is going to be a good year.  A positive year.  Yes, I know.  Some believe the Mayans have already laid a path of destruction via their circular calendar, the 'Cuauhxicalli Eagle Bowl'.  I am not among them.  I feel that 2012 is going to be a year of change for the better.

My New Years Eve day started with a trip to Kroger for a few things.  Everyone and their mother were buying groceries, but as usual my parking Karma was in effect and I got a space right up front.  As I walked in I noticed all of the bundles of greens leaving the store.  Looked like the traditional Collard Greens and Black Eyed Peas were the hot sellers as usual here in the South.  Black Eyed Peas consumed on New Years Eve symbolize good luck, and eating Collard Greens symbolizes monetary gain.  Your basic tradition of prosperity in the year to come.  

Over the past week I had kind of settled in my mind on staying in for New Years Eve night.  With all of the drunk drivers weaving back and forth on the roads, it has been my general opinion that staying home is the way to go. Then I changed my mind.  My tendency to be a shut-in on the various holidays usually has won out, but I decided that it would be good to get out.  To ring in the New Year in the company of others.  To "get out among them", as my father says.  

The local watering hole we visit upon occasion to shoot a few racks of pool was to be the place.  "The Islander" is a one room establishment that is close to home, and familiar territory.  There's nothing really special about the interior. Three pool tables, a bar along one wall, small dance floor, and assorted tables and booths.  The required collection of neon beer signs, and liquor themed posters and cardboard cutouts.  It being Saturday, there would be the regular karaoke machine and DJ.  Nothing out of the ordinary was expected.  

(Orion's Belt)

We always head up there in the later hours.  Anywhere from 10:00 to 11:00 PM.  I don't know why, really.  Anyway, after sprucing up a bit, we exited the front door.  On the way to the car I looked up at the night sky.  The stars were very visible.  My eyes immediately went to three stars that could only have been Orion's Belt.  There is really no mistaking them.  Beautiful and bright, I wished that I could have taken a decent picture.  (Mental note for the coming year: get a new camera.)

(Orion Constellation)

A friend of mine several years ago had a nephew named 'Orion'.  If his mother had done a bit of research on how Orion got the name, I think she might have changed her mind.  I assume that there is more than one variation on the story of Orion's naming, but this is a common one:  A man, Hyrieus of Boeotia, was granted a wish for showing great hospitality to three individuals...the three disguised Gods Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes.  Hyrieus's wish was that he wanted a son.  So the Gods urinated on a bull's hide and buried it in the Earth. Nine month's later a child was produced.  The name 'Orion' is derived from the Greek word 'ourios', which basically means urine.  "Hey everybody, I would like you to meet my nephew, Urine."  See what I mean?  *grin*  But I digress...

Back to the 'belt'.  The three glowing stars (Alnitak, Alnilam, and Minkaka) were beautiful.  Orion's Belt is the main fixture of the constellations most noticeable to me.  It and the Dippers.  Locating Orion's Belt is the best way to locate the constellation of Orion.  The best visibility for viewing the 'Belt' is during the month of January.  It was like the 'Belt' was heralding in the start of the new year.  Letting me know that January of 2012 was here.

We arrived at "The Islander", and it was about a third full.  It filled up pretty quickly, so a number of people opted to show up later like we did.  We got in a game of pool, but spent the rest of our time there at the bar talking to Aaron, the main bartender.  Rudy, the bar's owner was in attendance, so we spoke to him, too.  Both of them are top notch guys.

There were a number of singers taking advantage of the Karaoke machine...all absolutely terrible.  You could tell that they all thought they were great.  The worse the singer, the louder the singer.  The one that got to me the most was a gentleman singing an AudioSlave song.  Now, I am a huge Chris Cornell fan. He's got the best pipes in rock, in my opinion.  There is one thing in this world that devotees of the Karaoke should NOT do, and that thing is to sing Chris Cornell songs.  Those few minutes constituted one of the more painful periods of time I have experienced in awhile.

About 11:30 PM, the party hats and noisemakers were handed out, and close to midnight the champagne was taken around.  The New Year exploded onto the scene in a cacophony of horns and a shower of balloons.  2012 had arrived.  It's about time.  A new year and a fresh beginning.  Just what my creative self needs.

Wishing a Happy New Year full of light and love to all.