Last Night We Had a Party

bringing in the new year at home

Dear Myles,

Last night we had a party

I can’t remember how we used to bring in the new year when I was young, but I do remember how hard my brother and I fought to stay up late to watch the ball drop, just so we could say we did it.

How my mother, your grandmother, took an extra-long shower that night, cleaned the house with such passion, and as soon as the countdown began, she yelled each number as if she might forget them, smiling with her whole beautiful face with her arm wrapped around us.

And when the clock read 0:00 and the new year struck, she hugged us a little harder and prayed a little longer, just like the house she had just cleaned and the shower she had taken. She made sure the piping-hot soup joumou was ready to commemorate our Haitian ancestors.

I can’t remember where my father, your grandfather, was every New Year’s night, but I remember how good he smelled heading out the door. I remember how much he loved to party.

But last night.

The last one before the new year.

We threw a party for you -

and even though there wasn’t soup, the house was cleaned and the clothes were all washed

and even though it was only 8:30, right at your bedtime, we danced hard like it was 11:55,

bubbly in hand, and you with your own, and we started counting down, yelling like your grandma used to

we hugged and prayed and kissed you goodnight, and when the party was over, and the night was quiet

while your mother and I waited for the ball to drop over the next couple hours,

in between the homemade chocolate cookies, the Rotel, and the bubbly we shared,

I wondered, like I sometimes did when I was a kid,

why would anyone want to miss a party with your family.

Happy New Year my son,

To many more New Year parties I can’t wait to be around for -

Love,

Daddy

[Audio of our countdown lol]

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And if you are on Substack, please restack this letter and recommend it so I can share this love with the world.

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Let me know your thoughts:

1. How did you usually bring in the New Year when you were growing up?

2. Any traditions you still keep, or new ones you’ve started?

3. How do you feel about resolutions—love them, hate them, or somewhere in between?

4. What’s a New Year’s memory that has stuck with you?

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Want more of Myles’ Letters?

• Myles met his Grandfather in Brooklyn, NY

• Read about Our first Father’s Day.

• A video about beautiful backgrounds: Tell Them Where You're From.