Happy New Year

2026.

It is now 2026. How does this happen?

I still remember how excited we all were for the year 2000. New Year’s Eve that year was a Friday night, and I had a bunch of families over, and we all had so much fun wondering if all of the power was going to go out and the world was going to come to an end.

Little did we know about all the horrific things that were going to happen to our world over the next 26 years. Here is hoping that 2026 is the beginning of peaceful decades. More love than hate. Good health not sickness. Looking at everything half full instead of half empty. Chocolate good, kale smoothies bad. You know what I am trying to say. Good vibes, people, only good vibes.

And now that it is going to be 2026 and I am no longer 16 or 26 or even 46, I like to look back on those festive celebrations when not only would I stay up until midnight, I stayed up even later than that. Dancing, champagne, hanging out with friends. Good memories. Boy, do I miss the Concord Hotel.

Will I be up until midnight this year? Only if I stay up to talk to Son #2 in Israel. If I am up late, I can call him after 11:30 because he is getting ready to go to shul, and I am getting ready to go to bed. So if I make it until 11:30, chances are I can make it until midnight.

Of course midnight here is 9 p.m. where my sister is, so I need to tell her what happens in 2026, just in case there is something she should know.

We were even invited to a party this year, which would have been so nice if it was earlier. … I just cannot function in front of people who are not related to me (well, even in front of people who are related to me) so late at night. Even if I do really like them.

I need my pajamas and my computer, and this year I get to see my Rick Springfield on one of the “Rockin’ Eve” broadcasts. I guess there were slim pickings if my 76-year-old Rick is the one performing. Though I would be really happy if I could perform like him at 76. I can’t even do that now, but whatever.

2026. We have come so far with so many technological advancements, and I am still most grateful for the button on my key fob that causes my car to start honking in the parking lot so I can find it.

You can say what you want about the smartphone — the fact that I can see my kids in Israel is miraculous, but when all you have to do is press a button and your car starts saying, “I am right here! You left me right here!” Ahhh, there is no better feeling. What an invention!

What more could possibly be invented? Still waiting for those cures for cancer and the other awful diseases out there, but now is the time. It seems that obesity will soon be a thing of the past with all those shots and such. Of course, I will never use those shots, so I will be the only one to keep the national weight average up. That is a really heavy responsibility, but one I am willing to take on.

With a new year comes hope for a new beginning. An attempt at being nicer to people, nicer to yourself. A new year is also a time to say, “You know what? I am just done with all the things that don’t matter.” That is a great way to start the new year as well.

2026 — please be kind, please be gentle, please be peaceful. Please bring healing to those who need it and patience to those who need it. Please bring kindness and understanding. Please let my children realize that I am not getting any less nuts, but that I mean well and will try my best.

2026 — please bring good health to all of us, because without that, none of the other stuff matters. Happy New Year, everyone!

Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck will be celebrating the new year in Teaneck with her favorite date of the past 31 years….awwwwww.