A New, New Year's Tradition

A New, New Year’s Tradition

That was great! Let’s do it again next year. And so the agreement is the seed of a new tradition in the Kreshky household, a stressed family found in my novel, Baggage burdens.

What makes the event worthy of repetition? Some elements of the New Year’s Eve celebration play an important part. A good supper––a solid foundational cornerstone; teams––builds an atmosphere of acceptance and support; and playing games––involvement rather than skills results in joyful laughter, all lead to a time of fun. The glue that enhances the desire for repetition is the nourishing of caring family relationships.

The salt of Jill’s happy-new-year –wishing-party is the inclusion of a Eve who is not part of the family. Her addition renews life for this family of strained relationships.

Eve is an unlikely guest. Her mother is highly critical of Jill and so she is suspect. How can Eve not be anything like her mother? Also, Eve is the girlfriend of Daniel, Jill’s eldest son, the son who has little love for his mother. Could Daniel be recruiting help for his negative digs at Jill?

Eve’s leavening spirit grows out of a God-fearing, loving family. She is untouched by her mother’s condemning position of Jill or by Daniel’s frustrated view of his mother. Her motivating wish arises from a desire to be part of this family, a family to be characterized by a caring, loving relationship. What a new stimulating force for a New Year’s Eve party!

How does an almost twenty-year-old girl start a healing process for this frazzled family?

Fred Wicksberg phones. “Can Eve stay over night on New Year’s Eve? His tone is apologetic, as if his daughter has pressured him into phoning. “You do have a spare bedroom?”

Jill greets the request positively. After she hangs up, she wonders if Daniel or Joseph knew of Eve’s interest in joining them. Could that be why Joseph didn’t move downstairs yet? If they knew, why wasn’t she let in on it?

December 29 Eve phones Jill to ask if she can come over for a lunch on the 31^st. She explains that she wants to get to know Jill better.

Jill is surprised about Eve’s interest. She readily agrees wondering what brought on her sudden interest. One more person at the table is no problem. That night at supper Jill talks about Eve’s upcoming visit. She notes a smile of satisfaction from Daniel and Joseph but no sense of surprise.

“So, do you think last year’s New Year’s Eve toast came true?” asks Eve as she looks at Jill and then Amber. Eve has come over early to help Amber and Jill prepare the New Year’s eve treat trays–– a vegetable tray, a fruit tray, and a meat, cheese and cracker tray.

“It’s been a good year,” says Jill.

Amber agrees.

Jill announces, “We’ll serve one tray after each game. Charade winners will be the servers.”

“Can you handle that?” Amber looks at Eve, remembering that Eve and Daniel won all three games last year.

“Be our pleasure,” responds Eve smiling. Looking at the bottle of wine, she says, “Same as last year I see. A good tradition.” Eve sets the bottle down. “I think this year was the best ever. I doubt next year can beat it.” She proudly extends her left hand, wiggling her ring finger. “Today Daniel asked me to marry him.” She bounces up and down like a rubber ball. Jill catches her hand to get a better look at her ring.

Eve’s coming, a salt for Jill’s family

haiku capsule:                 

a surprising guest.     

outgoing girlfriend glows

Happy New Year boost.

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