Folded thought of the day:


Okay, we've heard some great New Year's Eve plans, ranging 
from modest to quite elaborate.  A few people wrote in 
commenting on D. Martin's rather phenomenal plan.  I think 
we were all a little humbled by that one.  Or as one 
reader wrote...

"There needs to be more of people like D. Martin in this world. 
It would have been nice if D. Martin's e-mail address was listed 
in case someone would like to contribute to this wonderful 
'Santa Claus.'  This is what Christmas is really about!" 

-- G. Moody

I couldn't agree more with the sentiment that the world could 
sure use more people like this.  Regarding the email address, 
well, I'll leave this up to D. Martin.  So D., if this sounds
like an idea you'd be interested in, just let me know and 
I'll gladly post your email address.  

Now, on to some more New Year's Eve plans...


"We are having a big bonfire and burning everything we don't 
want to take into the new millennium. Invited everyone and 
will make a big pot of chili and hot chocolate and mulled 
cider. Plan to do fireworks too."

-- C. Borden


"I plan to go to a party at a friend's home this New Year's 
Eve. It will be my first one since '55. This being '99, that 
makes it 44 years. BUT the best thing about this party is that 
it is for little children. I will take my 4 year old grandson. 
Children need to remember this special time as well as us 
'older folks'.  Hay ride, wiener roast, games, and of course 
a marshmallow roast. WOW what a good time is expected.  Hope 
yo'all have a happy time too."

-- R. Cole


"My husband and I will be in Wyoming visiting friends (who 
have 44 acres of land).   They've invited the whole town 
for a big New Year's Eve party.  Anyone who comes will have 
to leave their keys in a basket by the door.  Right before 
the big EVE, we'll all be on a ridge behind their house 
where you can see for miles & miles around and up there 
they plan on shooting off fireworks.  Just for the beauty 
of it all is worth going, despite the cold."

-- L. O'Neal


"I live in the 'burbs of San Francisco, quite dull but 
'clean and safe.' But I will be venturing into The City 
for New Year's Eve. I will be all alone since my fiance, 
who has a DJ business, will be working and making 
thousands of dollars from all the people who are willing
 to spend it on that one night. Then we will be able to 
use that money on a few weekend trips instead of just 
one night of revelry. I am probably going to go to Grace  
Cathedral where there will be 24 hours of contemplative 
music and chanting. I'll probably spend an hour or 2 there, 
wander around Chinatown, maybe treat myself to dinner and 
a drink at Maxwell's at the Sheraton Palace and admire the 
huge Maxfield Parrish painting that hangs over the bar."

-- Elaine

(A woman after my own heart.  As you know, I can often 
be found on the midnight stroll by myself...  visiting 
various areas of The City and seeing where the night 
takes me.  It's been a while since I've been to San 
Francisco.  I spent about 2 months there a few years 
back.  I took many a walk through the hazy alleys of 
Chinatown and I always loved to get up at about 5am 
and go down to the docks and listen to the seals and 
observe the fishermen doing their early morning trade.  
Such a beautiful city.  Your plans sound great.)


"My husband (who is a stroke patient) & I are hoping 
to attend our local Multi Cultural New Year's Eve party 
on the Boulevard.  All cultures will be there and we 
have a ball dropping just like New York!  It's so good 
to be able to come together, especially on this special 
New Year, with all peoples!"

-- Jo


"We will probably stay home and celebrate the safe way.  Due to 
the fact I am pregnant with our first child, we want to be extra 
careful about our location, you never know I could go into labor.  
We will probably have a few friends and family members come over 
including my mother who will have come from New Mexico (she thinks 
I will be going into labor around that time).  They will probably 
have a drink or two (myself, I will probably stick to juice or 
soda) and play a few different games of some kind.  We are just 
looking at the fact we will be together and that is what is 
important. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year, I'm sure this will 
be one to remember."

-- A. Cooper


** And finally, last but not least, let's hear from the girl 
who started all this New Year's Eve talk.  Ladies and 
gents, boys and girls, Folded spirits everywhere, please 
give a warm welcome to Charlotte...

"I am so glad you finally addressed my request to know what 
everyone is doing for the big day.  Some of the stuff is great, 
isn't it?!  Lots of wonderful ideas.  But it would be exciting 
if everyone could get together.  Maybe you could all converge 
on little Rhode Island and meet me on one of our great state 
beaches to watch the sunrise on the new century.  At the very 
least we should all pick a moment during that exciting night 
to think of our beloved Daily Editor and all the great friends 
we've made here and toast to our future continuing relationship.
I wish us all the best of all the wonderful emotions we've shared 
here.  Happy New Year Everyone"

(Awww, what a beautiful sentiment.  Your idea to have people 
send in their New Year's Eve plans was indeed inspired.  And 
thanks for the sweet, and extremely humbling thought.  I know 
I'll be thinking of you and the entire Below the Fold community 
when that clock strikes midnight -- hoping you are all safe and 
feeling at ease with your place in the world.  I wish we all 
could convene up there in Rhode Island with Charlotte and 
watch that first sunrise of 2000.  So, let's all make a point 
to honor Charlotte's wish and think of each other as this moment 
in history unfolds...)