Since joining the military, I have never been big on celebrating holidays. I am not religious, and I just never see the point of celebrating something that has become a big overly commercialized marketing scheme. Being stationed in Germany, we get the chance to build our own "families." So, I had a couple of parties and all, but I just can't get in the holiday spirit. New Year's now, that will be different.
The weather in Stuttgart this year is not very festive. I think yesterday it was about 50 degrees with rain, today is much of the same. I think New Year's will actually be clear skies and same temperatures, but Germany has been known to surprise me. They do the New Year differently out here, but it is way fun. They have fireworks, but not like a big fireworks show. Everyone meets downtown with their own fireworks, and it is a HUGE party. When the New Year strikes, people are all drunk, high, whatever, and shooting fireworks... AT EACH OTHER. The first year I witnessed this was different. The clouds and fog kept the smoke down, and it was like a war zone. Needless to say, I was a bit on edge. However, we found a much better vantage point where we take our friends for a good celebration of our own, and we shoot fireworks over the rive that flows through the city.
Regardless, I hope everyone had what they consider an enjoyable Christmas holiday. Please keep those who cannot be with their families in your thoughts... and prayers if you are into that. I know first hand how lonely it can be over holidays when you are in some deployed location, far from anything family. My thoughts and heart go out those serving in hazardous places.