It was the winter of ’55 and it would be the winter of ’56 in fourteen minutes. I was 21yo, in the Air Force driving through Missouri on my way to a new base assignment.
The whole world’s about to celebrate and here I am in my partying prime all alone without a girl to kiss. There’s a lesson here somewhere. What’s the big deal? We’re the only creatures on the planet with a calendar and as far as I know, the big old universe will flow right on past midnight without a glance. So turn off Sinatra and keep your foot on the gas pedal.
What’s the name of this town? I didn’t catch it on the way in. They really do all look the same. Yea, but it’s your whole world if you live here.
Huh, looks like a traffic light up ahead—that’s one more than some of these towns have. How far did I drive today? I’ll be at the base sometime tomorrow.
Is that movie theater actually open? There are only three cars in front and the rest of the street is as dead as a doornail. Dead as a doornail? – How about dead as a deadbolt? Yea, that’s better. Okay, I’m losing it. Maybe I should take a break and check it out; the marquee says they’re having a special New Years countdown.
I parked the car and walked over to the little kiosk in front of the movie house and bought a ticket from a very tired looking man.
Oh boy, there must be two hundred seats in here and a hundred ninety-eight are empty. So I’m sad sack number three. Maybe I’ll put this in my memoirs someday. I’ll call it “New Years Eve in Missouri.”
Good News Flash: It’s almost midnight and I’ll be out of here and back on the road in about five minutes. I guess the special New Years countdown will start after this movie ends. Oh, I see, the movie will continue after the special New Years countdown. I’ll pass on that, and no, I don’t want a rain check. What’s the name of this movie? I don’t recognize it but then I don’t see many movies these days—too busy flying airplanes. Man that’s fun! And it’s real.
Okay, one minute to go. Is that the special New Years countdown, that old black and white clock face on the screen? It looks like it was made in the silent movie days. It’s as old and worn out as this theater. Auld Lang Syne always makes me feel sad and good at the same time … I’m not really feeling the good part right now.
Five, four, three, two, one … oh geez … one guy clapped … three claps … clap … clap … clap. Each clap got duller than the last. The last one was really pathetic. A one-armed man couldn’t have done worse! Come on, give the guy some credit; at least he clapped. Get real, he was being sarcastic. He said what all three of us felt. So I’ll give him credit for that.
Okay, that’s sad. I don’t feel good for these guys. But what am I gonna’ do, stand up and make a rousing speech to two lonely guys about how good life could be for them if they only did … what? What I’m doing? That ain’t gonna’ happen. Anyway, they’d probably beat the crap out of me.
Hit the road, Mac.