This New Years Eve night was cold again and lovely, beckoning revelers outside for Champagne and pyrotechnics at the new years birth; the old years ending. From a balcony crowded with Logans's teammates and friends, their parents, and our family I handed out glasses of Moet to all and we savored its taste in the clean crisp night. Wearing borrowed coats and boots the gang of teenagers stood shoulder to shoulder with their middle-aged parents. Celebrants all anticipating the nights capping touch, the fireworks show from our frost covered hay field began.

This night’s entertainment was being performed by Uncle Ben and his friends from Maryland who had come to join our Michigan crew for the holiday: Mars and Amelia, the thoughtful and friendly couple now attending Michigan State University, and Ron the witty and entertaining former roommate of Ben headed into the field with him, Linden, and our dogs as escorts. A preassembled launching platform was surrounded by rockets, mortars, and roman candles sorted by type and color. Lighting long sticks of unscented incense, the artists were revealed briefly by lighter glow against a dark backdrop of woods behind them. The dogs chased each other around, excited to be in the dark field at midnight, not caring why they were there but living the joy of a cold night on our dormant field with people who were again doing the incomprehensible.

Suddenly the first mortar shot exploded out of it's tube training spirals of fiery sparks behind, ascending into the clear star filled sky. An instants flash revealing artists in a snapshot of activity to launch the next rounds, and dogs jumping and biting at sparks and smoke, imagined threats to the people they guarded from dangers known or unknown.

For those minutes, we stood transfixed by the beauty of vibrant colors in a gorgeous winter sky, drinking in Orion, the Big Dipper, and Pleiades along with an occasional sip of bubbly between shots. All concerns about wars, hard economic times, raising families, and all other things people worry about were replaced with the simple appreciation of beauty shared with those we love. Simple beauty for those moments was all that mattered, and everyone was rapt until the show ended.

Slowly we said our goodnights and guests drifted home, the soccer gang to spend the night at one of Logan's teammates. Lori and Linden went to bed, and after collecting what could be located of spent rocket casings we checked the barn to see that horses were safe and content. In the barn conversations started anew and another two hours swiftly elapsed while we petted horses and cats while talking, then another 30 minutes looking at the stars. It was 5 AM, and time for sleep. New years had dawned with beautiful sights, good companionship, and a soft warm bed after.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Greg