A New Year’s Toast
The cold night air nipped at our cheeks as we gathered on my uncle’s back porch, wrapped in wool coats and scarves. Strings of twinkling lights draped along the fence gave the scene a cozy glow, casting soft shadows over the snow-dusted yard. The clock was ticking toward midnight, and the anticipation of the New Year buzzed among us like static electricity.
“Alright, everyone, time to light ‘em up,” Uncle Tony announced, holding out a wooden humidor lined with neatly arranged cigars. It was his tradition to share a smoke with family and friends as the year rolled over, a ritual of camaraderie and reflection.
I hesitated, the cedar aroma wafting up as I selected a mild Connecticut leaf. It wasn’t something I did often, but tonight was special. Tonight was about savoring the moment.
“Let me get that for you,” my cousin Danny said, flicking his lighter with practiced ease. A small flame danced, catching the end of the cigar as I drew in a tentative puff. Around me, others were doing the same, laughter punctuating the stillness of the winter night.
“Here’s to a year full of memories,” Aunt Rosa said, raising her glass of champagne, her cigar poised delicately between two fingers.
“And to the ones we’ve already made,” my sister added, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
The smoke curled upward, mingling with the frosty air, as we shared stories from the past year. Some were lighthearted—Danny’s botched attempt at making lasagna that ended in ordering pizza—while others carried a weight that felt easier to share in the glow of companionship.
As the countdown began, we all huddled together, cigars in one hand, glasses in the other.
“Ten, nine, eight…”
I looked around at the faces lit by the warm glow of the porch lights. My family. My friends. Each of them a thread in the tapestry of my life, woven tighter with each passing year.
“Three, two, one!”
A cheer erupted as we clinked glasses and hugged. Fireworks burst overhead, their bright colors reflecting off the snow. Smoke from our cigars hung in the air, a fragrant reminder of the moment, of the bond we shared.
I took another puff, letting the warmth settle in my chest. The world felt wide open, the new year stretching before us like a blank page, ready to be filled.
“To new beginnings,” Uncle Tony said, lifting his cigar in a toast.
“To family,” I replied, smiling as the words hung in the crisp night air.