HAPpy New Year! Feliz año nuevo!
My evening was super fun as I expected. It started out mellow. Everyone was dressed up and looking great. We sat around chatting. The men played pool. We grazed on my cookies.
Then suddenly Marcela's Aunt looked startled and said it was midnight. I said NO and checked the clock on the phone in my hand, which read 12:00. I was in shock! It felt like 10 p.m. We grabbed each other and gave each other a big hug. Then she said a bunch of nice things about how happy she is to spend the holidays with me and that she hopes every year I spend in Honduras will be better and better. Everyone hugged and said Happy New Year.
Then we got in line for food. We had a delicious meal and the dancing began. They asked if I know how to dance. I told them all no, but I like to try. So we danced the rest of the night away.
My favorite part of the night was dancing with Hermida's father. He is in his 80's and the very definition of spry. Tonight as he was eating dinner a pool stick fell over behind him. He lept out of his seat to pick it up. This man does not move like any other person of his age. He is a beautiful dancer.
I felt a little silly dancing with him, because I had no clue what I was doing. But everyone kept telling me I was a great dancer, and I was having a good time, so I kept dancing. Marcela's uncle got video of me dancing one song with her grandfather. We watched the video together and he remarked, "Wow, technology these days."
This was one of my favorite New Years Eves ever. My other favorite was when my friend and I were invited to an Ethiopian restaurant we frequented. We didn't know that they were closing for good that night and that we were the only ones outside of the restaurant staff and their families who were invited. They did traditional Ethiopian dances all night and were great sports about teaching us. We danced Ethiopian style to Snoop Doggy Dog. It was an honor to be included as guests there.
That was how I felt tonight too. Now I am getting to know the family well. I can easily move from room to room and make conversation with whomever is there. I loved the dancing part. While merengue is difficult, I must say that Ethiopian is much harder. A few more merengue lessons and I might feel as good as they say I am.
It was a wonderful New Year's celebration.
