New Year's Tradition

Around the world are different traditions during New Year's Eve and day. In the U.S., many like to watch the ball drop in New York, be it in person or watching on TV. According to Google, Australians often take boat cruises and also watch countdowns in cities. Some people have certain activities they always do while others just party the night away.

My family often has a small party on New Year's Eve. We used to all stay up until midnight and watch the clock change, but we haven't in a few years now. Living with those in the sixth decade of life means we're usually wrapping up around 10:00, but I must admit that I'm not much for staying up late either.

This year, I did not have a night nurse on the eve of 2018. Therefore, my mom and I were up at midnight to watch the clock switch, but we both would have rather been near sleep. I did have a tradition I followed for a few years, and one that was unique to the quad life.

When I used the traditional ventilator, I liked occasionally getting off it for a few minutes at a time and practice my breathing. It was a nice break from the noise and the mechanical breathing pattern of one breath every four seconds, or 15 breaths per minute. Every other week my tracheostomy (trach) tube was also changed. I have full feeling of the area around my trach and my throat, so it also felt good to be free of it for a short time.

I made it a tradition that we did my trach change when the year renewed. My nurse would remove the tube just before the stroke of midnight and replace it after the hour change. I could therefore say I ended the year without having the hardware and started the year without it as well. Granted, it was less than a minute most years, but it was still a unique way to start the year.

In 2015 I replaced my full tracheostomy with a trach button. Also with different caregivers, I wasn't changing it at night anymore. Therefore, like many traditions, it is now just a memory.

With the first week of 2018 now complete, I have already started new routines of biking multiple times a week and continue daily reading. I will see what God has planned for the upcoming weeks and months.