Last night the four of us very modestly rang in the new year. A completely different ‘party’ than last year, when Covid was still far away and we had no idea what awaited us.
At least we had delicious oliebollen (a typical Dutch deep fried snack made of dough with apple and raisin filling, served with powdered sugar). When we moved here, I thought we would miss the oliebollen from the bakery in our previous place of residence, but intuitively I immediately found the right successor. A small artisan baker; on our first New Year’s Eve there was a long line outside the store and I knew I was in the right place.
Last year around this time I had just finished radiotherapy and started hormone therapy. The last five months of 2019 had been tough, but I got an energy boost when our best friends unexpectedly wanted to come and celebrate New Year’s Eve with us.
Obviously I would provide food and drinks, but of course my friends – caring as they are – had brought tasty snacks, so we had way too much. We all sat around the large kitchen table, a favorite place in our home. Our youngest guest loved watching the fireworks through the large attic window, which became a bit harder when a thick fog rolled in. Luckily it cleared up around midnight and we had an excellent view on the beautiful fireworks in the sky.
Apparently it was only clear in some places, because a few hours later our friends were just on their way home when they drove into a massive wall of fog and turned around. I was happy that they chose their safety and was pleased that they used the accommodation I had prepared.
Traditions
So at the end of the year we have a few traditions that we like to honor. In December we bake sausage rolls according to my in-laws’ tradition.
With my family we have a traditional family gathering on New Year’s Day. For as long as I can remember, it has been the day we wish each other a happy New Year and eat oliebollen together. Even my mother knows no better than that her father baked piles of oliebollen on New Year’s Day. Grandpa and grandma are no longer with us, but with almost a hundred children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren we try to honor the long tradition (unfortunately not this year because of Covid).
We have a lot to process from last year and a lot to catch up on. I wish that everyone, worldwide, finds the resilience this year to make this earth a better place. Don’t take anything for granted.
Be kind to yourself and your loved ones and stay healthy!