Well well well, who would ever have thought that the jolly New Year's Eve parties of 1992 that had us dancing the Macarena, would become a sedate Masked Ball on the eve of 2022?
Wearing a mask when going anywhere has become mandatory.
There are rules when going shopping with security personnel guarding the sanitizer stations, and if you forget to spray your hands you get the finger-wagging as you're breaking the law!
Strict curfews back in the 90s were enforced by your parents or boarding schools, not governments!
The roaring 1920s led to prohibition in America.
One hundred years later our government did the same by banning the sale of alcohol and even tobacco in 2020!
The black market thrived when these bans were enforced each time Covid figures rose!
It could happen again as this new variant has shown up here in South Africa so some people have already started stocking up, just in case!
Anyone who predicted that we would be forced into this kind of restriction in the 21st century, would have been told they were absolutely looney!
Being a Silver Blogger means that I am already restricted with stiff and aching joints and I pretend to not hear words like osteoarthritis being spewed by the doc.
Now the government also wants to spoil the party of 2022 by restricting our movements with curfews and travel restrictions, so I guess the Macarena has been thrown out the window as New Year's Eve 2022 likely is going to be a Masked Ball!
Most of our family, from Ouma & Oupa, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in and around Durban and a party at my aunt's house became an annual tradition. The rest of the family who lived in the Eastern Cape would drive up in time for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
This pot was a gift from one of our awesome BnB guests.
The New Year's Eve party started in the afternoon already, with loads of food as everyone would bring their own specialty.
Ouma and Mom Lily made the Pies, Milk Tarts, and Lemon Meringue Tarts which were everyone's favourites; the pies were the perfect treat to pick up by hand while everyone would mingle, catch up on the latest family scandal. The children played games like hide-and-seek and never got bored like today's kids.
The party would be held outdoors in my aunt and uncle's sprawling garden as New Year is in the midst of summer.
As soon as the sun went down, the menfolk would light the braai fires (BBQ) and compete as to who could make the best fire and who was the best at braaing (barbequing) the meat, so there was much light-hearted bantering going on there!
My one cousin often turned these celebrations into themed parties; from Hawaiian to Zombies, Celebs, and often anything goes, but dressed up in something it had to be while Angie was still in SA!
Mom Lily is top left dressed up as a Tramp; my sister-in-law was Dolly Parton and my son was Death! My nephew 
his her lips;)
Sis-in-law & cousin Angie on left with Mom and I bottom right; I was too busy bringing up kids and cooking and baking for the party so still had to add some pizazz to my outfit, but I could not find any photo of the final look!
As the night wore on, the party would move indoors and the music would start; sometimes the brothers-in-law would form an impromptu band as they were all musical. We heralded in the new year of 1992 with much singing, dancing and laughter! Even some of the little ones joined in the dancing, but did not manage to stay awake till the clock struck midnight to welcome the new year!
Mom & Dad bottom right
I really miss those days as nowadays the family is scattered all over the world, so there's only a handful of us left here.
I guess we'll be having a quiet evening at home; just our sons and the girlfriend will be here and we'll likely prepare our new favourite foods - a Cheese and Cold cuts board, Cheesecake, mini Bacon & Cheese as well as Spinach & Feta Quiches and one old favourite will remain, Milk Tartlets a-la-2022.
Watching all our favourite music videos on television will keep us awake till the clock strikes midnight, although the 2 old silvers are sure to doze off before then!
We'll certainly be wishing our BnB guests a happy new 2022, as they're regular guests, but we'll be all masked up and pretend we're at a masked ball!
Photo by Llanydd Lloyd on Unsplash
Come to think of it, snazzy masks will definitely be on my shopping list for this quiet masked ball, but one thing I'll not be sorry to say goodbye to is the year 2021!
This has been my ineligible entry for the Silver Bloggers' #bow - Blog of the Week
Looking back to look forward:
how will your
✨New Year 2022✨
party plan shape up against your
💃1992 New Year's celebration💃?
A reminder for everyone:
The community description which you will find here, is a guide to the content that is welcome in the Silver Bloggers' Community. We will encourage folk who post content that doesn't jive, to find an alternative and more comfortable space in which to play.
The contest closes at midnight GMT (also known as UTC) on Tuesday 7 December 2021 and the winners will be announced later the following week.
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