Papa's Got a Brand New Year

This page spent part of New Years Eve in Seattle honouring two notable Americans.

To be honest, I wasn't as moved by the truncated moment of silence at the Sonics-Celtics game for America's 38th President, Gerald Ford, as I was by the roof-lifting rendition of 'Sex Machine' by the Sonic Funk Band at the Center House dance afterwards, a tribute to America's Soul Brother Number 1: James Brown. It could be callousness, ignorance, or shallowness, but all I know is that "Shake yo' moneymakuh" resonates with this page a little more than "Our long national nightmare is over". In Ford's defence, however, he is the better conversation starter. What would have happened if he hadn't pardoned Richard Nixon? What if the deal to put him on Ronald Reagan's ticket at the 1980 GOP convention hadn't fallen through? Would anyone have ever been forced to choke on the words "President Bush"?

As for New Year's Eve itself, it rocked for this page and Walnut Boat. Saw a little hoops, shook the collective moneymakuh, put back something called "California Champagne", and took in the fireworks at the Space Needle. Note to anyone who's still enamored with Vancouver's "Celebration of Light": It is possible for tens of thousands of young people to gather for a fireworks show and NOT throw punches, scream obscenities, or stab each other. In fact, this page was able to calmly scarf back Hostess snack cakes and watch Cartoon Network in his ground floor hotel room, directly facing the dispersing crowds, and not fear for his life.

Get up, get on up....get up, get on up....