This marked the first New Year’s Eve where I attended a birthday party at the start of my celebration. I’d lived in Austin for 6 years, passing the chain seafood restaurant as I fetched myself to and from yoga, never once stopping in until NYE 2015. I enjoyed the small group of poets gathered as much as I enjoyed my entree–coconut popcorn shrimp!
Hours later, I attended another NYE party, hosted by one of my cousins and former capoeira teacher.
One of his roommates co-hosted the party. He had been teaching his girlfriend to play Go, but I was so excited to see a Go board that I intruded on the lesson. They were both good sports about it.
I’d told my cousin during his birthday party a month ago that I’d wanted to cook one of my homemade lasagnas in their gas oven. Now I’m thinking it should be a lasagna and Go party.
This was the only police officer either my cousin or I ever want to see at a party.
I loved hanging out with the “ol’ capoeira gang,” including some new ones who started after I stopped officially training. I made sure I took pictures with everyone before the ball dropped.
We were both scared when the photographer got this close to take our picture, but it turned out better than we expected.
The first live music I heard in 2016 was this makeshift samba percussion group. I promptly shed my decorative jacket and sambaed my heart out.
An hour earlier, I got this shot from my immediate family, commemorating the east coast celebration–all with sparkling apple cider in hand!
