New Year's Day

Sunrise on New Year's Day

2017 has started ... I'd wish you all a Happy New Year ... except that I'm pretty cynical. Each year  that I've seen has been no better than the last ... with the same problems or even worst. But lest I dampen the spirit, let niceties be and "Happy New Year".

For starters yesterday I had a bad allergy reaction. I was offered a chocolate which I reluctantly accepted because most chocolates contain some race of nuts. Though I was told there are no nuts in it, just one bite and out came a hazelnut cream soft-centre. I spat it out immediately but damage was done. My hands were swollen and itchy, and so was the rest of my body. Eyes were red and swollen, tongue swollen and I couldn't breathe. Luckily there was a seminarian who stayed with me for a while. Being Sabbath and also Hanukkah, getting a taxi to hospital would have been a very big hassle and expensive. I took my medicine and Epipen ... and the reaction slowly faded in 4 hours. And Coca-cola was a big help too. What a way to end the year.

Jaffa Gate and the hanukkia

Anyway I was in my office till 10.30pm when I felt much better and could safely walk home alone. It was very cold ... about 3 degrees. But I decided to walk instead to Jaffa Gate to see the lights of Hanukkah and perhaps fireworks at midnight to welcome the New Year. There was a large crowd of tourists, locals and ultra-orthodox jews in the Jaffa Gate Plaza, watching the audio-visual on the City Wall. There was also a giant hanukkia at the Gate.

I remained there till midnight, hoping to see the fireworks that are usually stationed at Sultan's Pool down in the Gehenna Valley. Many other people were waiting as well. But nothing happened. This year there was no fireworks. Everyone went home disappointed.

As I was only just recovering from my allergic reaction, I walked home very slowly and cold. That was when I felt very cynical. Nothing good has happened to me, not last year, nor the years before, so why should the new year be any different?