New Years Resolutions and Memories from Ben Graber

 

In December 1968, Sandy and I began to plan our New Years event. We were both attending

Queens College

in

Flushing

and we had been invited to some New Year’s  bashes, but we decided that it was about time for these two New Yorkers to go to

Times Square

with all the crowds and experience what we watched on television for years.

 

 We went with my buddy Harry and his newest girl friend. We took the D train from the

Bronx

  to

42^nd Street

in

Manhattan

  and  we met in front of Nedick’s outdoor orange juice stand. Naturally everyone was late, so we missed our reservation at Mama Leone’s Italian Restaurant. We walked around and   found a reliable ,Chinese restaurant that had room for us.  We ate slowly until

11 PM

, then walked over to

Times Square

.

 

 The crowds were wild, there was snow flurries and the temperature was a cold,  28 degrees. We waited and watched the ball drop, we all cheered and then made our New Years wishes and hugged and kissed everyone around us. It was surreal, we were freezing and it was now 1969. We went back to the subway, said goodnight to Harry and friend and went to

Queens

to stay at

Sandy

’s house.

 

That year

Sandy

and I became engaged, we would graduate in 1970 and marry the same year. In our minds we dreamed of the future. Where would we live? Would I get into medical school?

Vietnam

was on our minds and social upheaval in the country and on our college campus was real and active. What would the future bring? Leaders were assassinated , there were riots in the streets and  our generation, our friends , our relatives were  fighting this  war.

 

Today, as I look to

Sandy

to make plans for the arrival of 2010, I chance to review the last 40 years. They were good. Full of activities, successes, children, grandchildren., career opportunities and a successful medical and political career.  Sandy and my children made me proud of their accomplishments. Even Harry finally settled down and raised a family.

 

 Unfortunately, more wars, new challenges, new enemies and social upheaval are still with us. Many of our family members have passed on and many new family members have lovingly,  joined us.

 

 Life and it’s wonders continue. It’s full of hope and happiness , family growth, dreams and aspirations.

 

Let us all make a New Years  Resolution to brighten our future with positive thoughts, love, peace, success, health and good will to all our neighbors and friends. We must be grateful for what we are given and not dwell on what we can’t have.

 

 I hope on this  New Years Eve, when the ball drops  in

Times Square

and 2010 arrives, that  we  all experience  that surreal moment, when we hug and kiss everyone around us and resolve to move  forward into the future with  dreams, aspirations and love before our eyes. May G-d Bless you all and a Happy New Year from the Graber family