Welcoming 2008

There's no need to hang around cold New York City with one million shivering people on New Year's Eve!

Bob and I purchased buttons to enjoy the First Night celebration in much warmer downtown Raleigh - a tradition we have followed for the past fifteen years or more. Kicked off by a People's Procession complete with long dragon, tall stick people, children wearing silly hats they've created earlier in the afternoon at the museum workshops, dancers and marching bands............downtown is the place to be.

Attending the various music venues along the route, entrance guaranteed by that fancy button, was fun. We heard jazz, Celtic, rock, concluding with a magnificent church pipe organ concert given by a friend, so awesome it made me think I was in an English cathedral.

The lowering, by crane, of the huge copper Raleigh Acorn - the symbol for our "City of Oaks", followed by a fireworks display, is done early at 7 PM for kids (of all ages including us!) and repeated at midnight for the true revelers. We then stopped for a quick meal before hurrying home to pop the champagne cork at midnight.

The acorn being lowered at the countdown - Bob getting ready to rub it for good luck.

And me..............touching the smooth copper and making my New Year wishes.

"Happy New Year to you all from Raleigh, North Carolina."