New Years Memories
The symbol for Parker Brother's Monopoly
New Year's Day circa 1965
New Year's Day circa 1960
New Years Eve Circa 1972
New Years Eve circa 1974
- It was "game night" for the Smiths, and our favorite game was Monopoly. "Name that Tune" almost replaced Monopoly one year.
- In the earlier years, mom would make oyster stew. As the family matured, it was one of the few nights when we would have lobster at Midnight.
- At the stroke of Midnight, the Smith kids would go outside with pots and pans and "wake up the neighborhood". It was also a tradition carried on today by many of our families.
- It was night filled with music, TV, soda and "chips and dip".
There were a few years, in which dad and mom would celebrate New Years Eve outside the home. They would go dancing, although dad never knew how to dance...so we suspect mom had to find a dance partner if she wanted to do a little fox trot.
On your left is a picture taken on New Year's Day. Mom and Dad came home with noise makers and hats...of course it gave us something else to play with.
I only recall having Christmas at our grandparents one time...and I think for Mom and Dad...once was enough.
I recall the car being packed heavily with gifts and suitcases...barely enough room for us. And mom instructing us occasionally not to look at any of the packages or bags. In later years, we would make our Christmas pilgrimage after Santa had arrived in Eureka. We would be allowed to bring one "one toy" with us...that was OK because we knew that there would be other gifts waiting for us in Kimball.
By the time we reached our 19th birthday, beer was introduced into our New Years' celebration!
I recall spending one New Years Eve going from farm to farm, shooting guns in the air, and waiting for each farmer to come out to give us a "shot of whiskey." I don't know how many farms we visited, but do recall having our friends drop us off at Church the next morning. I think we came to Church the same time as Mom and Dad.
In 1974 Monopoly was replaced by another Parker Brother's board game - RISK.
It was a game of strategy...with the objective of building an army capable of taking over world domination. Even in those days we would spend much of our New Years at home before going to a friend's house to attend their party.
I guess we just liked being around one another.
The
Fox Children (Tom, Michael and Robbie)