on a holiday and then forever having what is supposed to be a joyful day be somewhat tainted. One of my friends lost his mom on Christmas Day decades ago...to this day, he doesn't really "do" Christmas, though he was at my bff's sister's house for a Christmas Day gathering. Other than decorations and Christmas cookies, there wasn't a lot of emphasis on the "Christmas" aspect; it could've been any meal with friends.
Dad proposed to Mom at the stroke of midnight 1962 going into 1963...or maybe it was 1963 going into 1964? We used to joke that that was the last time he was up that late on NYE but then in 1999, we were watching Bro's kids here at the house and while he was reasonably certain nothing was going to happen, he stayed up with us just in case Y2K caused, I don't know, a power outage or something. Anyways, I think since Mom's passing, Dad's not too keen on NYE/NYD because it reminds him of losing her.
