2010 Baby

Ten years ago, in December 1999, I was interning in the New York City Garment District, and since I only made $100 a week, I didn’t think too much to ask my boss if, on New Year’s Eve, Brad, his best friend from grade school and I could camp out in the office, which was located on the 49th floor looking out over Times Square. Amazingly enough, he said yes!

We packed up a picnic dinner, some board games, Brad’s video equipment and headed downtown. We made our way around Times Square where cold tired suckers had been corralled into holding pens since the day before. We bought some “2000” eye glasses and some horn blowers and headed up to our perch.

Throughout the evening we were visited by security guards patrolling the buildings and, from our vantage point, we could see sharp shooters scattered about the rooftops of neighboring buildings. Earlier on the street, I’d noticed that nearly one in three men inhabiting the streets had a wire in his ear. At one point, when a couple of detectives were sent to check in with us, I asked if there truly was anything to worry about. He said they’d been receiving bomb threats every thirty seconds for the previous 72 hours.

Humbling.

At around nine o’clock, my co-worker and her husband showed up at the door. While they’d originally planned on having a quiet evening at home, at eight o’clock they looked at one another and said, “What are we crazy? It’s 1999!” and hopped into a cab to come join us.

It was a pretty silly and cozy evening, more or less as if we’d decided to kick back at home with a couple of friends, but at eleven it hit us what a momentous occasion it was and what a fantastic (or crazy) spot we were in. We were joined by a couple of New York’s finest, who asked if they could join our party, because we truly were in an awesome location.

Brad had his video camera set up, zoomed in over Times Square. As the hour approached, I’ve never in my life had a greater sense of progression of time. Ten minutes to twelve, I realized that there was no turning back. We were bringing in the new century surrounded by several million people, and whatever happened at midnight we were going to be a part of it. Looking over the Square, I hugged Brad and could feel his heart pounding as the countdown lit up beneath us in giant white numbers. When the countdown reached “one,” and roaring cheer raced up from the street as the buildings surrounding us lit up in colorful explosions of fireworks and confetti sparkled like glitter as it poured over the crowds below.

Nearly a year later, in the beginning of December, we got married in New York’s City Hall, we moved back to the West Coast in the summer of 2002. We had baby Tizzy in 2004 and Baby Zip in 2005 and have spent the remainder of the decade embracing family life.

Ten years later, on the eve of the new decade, there is a Full moon, a Blue Moon and even a partial eclipse!

Tizzy woke up this morning saying, “Happy New Year! I’m so kickcited!” and I have to admit, I’m pretty excited too. My boys are at an age where they may actually stay up till midnight and remember this New Year’s.

Now that I’m no longer a new parent, and pretty moved into the role, I’m starting to feel like myself again. I’m looking forward to seeing who my boys grow into in this new decade, but also who I grow into as well.

Now, we’re off to celebrate with old friends in San Francisco, 3000 miles away from our New York post ten years ago, and, as I write this, the boys are tugging at my coat, anxious to get this evening started.

Wherever you are, and however you’re choosing to celebrate, know we’re thinking of you and wishing you a Happy and Safe New Year!

video by Brad Wise Dec. 31, 1999