Just because a new year has begun, a new post is warranted. I spent Christmas watching the news about Buffalo New York while stranded at my sister’s house in Niagara Falls, New York. I live in Buffalo, but I left Thursday the 22nd to spend Christmas with family. My son had arrived from Florida the day before, after spending the night at a Florida airport. There was supposed to be a huge gathering with families from Buffalo, the Falls, and surrounding areas. The blizzard moved in around noon.

My daughter was caught at work at the state hospital, and my nephew was caught at his garage. The pipes burst at my daughter’s house and left her oldest daughter Shinashia, and Little Will with no water. A pipe burst at my sister’s, and we were without water for a brief time, then there was no hot water for a couple of days.

Back in Buffalo, my house had no heat. People were dying, in their homes, in their cars, and in the snow.

A nephew’s house went up in flames. He was at work, but his fiancé suffered minor burns. This is how December, in our family, was ending.

Then, December 31st came, and the Christmas gathering became a New Year’s Eve gathering.

The ones who were able to come came from Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and surrounding areas. My daughter came with Little Will, who did very well with the crowd thanks to videos on my daughter’s phone.

There was plenty of food, which didn’t interest Willie. He did eat chicken wings during the event.

Christmas presents were handed out with Willie focused on the phone.

There was Karaoke.

Here’s my son choosing a song as my brother, the DJ sets it up.

There were solos.

There were duets.

There were many who posed for pictures.

Willie’s meltdown started close enough to twelve a.m. that my daughter was able to wait until after the countdown to leave. She texted me once she and Willie were safe at home back, in Buffalo. I returned to Buffalo on New Year’s Day. I missed a week of work due to the blizzard, but I am back at work and reflecting on one year’s ending and this year’s beginning. Here’s to hoping it all gets better.