New Year 2026
I welcomed 2026 in the warmth of my own apartment, with my boyfriend Max.
Last year, we caught fireworks on the the harbourfront and I had my first ever new year’s kiss, but then it was unusually “warm” last year – warm being 0 degrees. This time around it was several degrees below freezing, so I thought I would not survive being outside for so long in that weather.
So we stayed home, and Max prepared dinner. He had bought oysters from Bestco and shucked them himself with an oyster knife that they sold there, too. “Bestco is the best!” he had whooped upon this discovery, because he had gone to a Marshall and Homesense and they didn’t have any.
He also made some air fried beef with enoki mushrooms which I helped prep by making the marinade.
I also prepared 12 pieces of grapes each for us to eat at the stroke of midnight. Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve is a Spanish tradition symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and happiness for each of the twelve months of the coming year, with one grape eaten for each chime of the clock as midnight strikes.
The Filipino superstition is actually about having 12 round fruits for prosperity, but this was close enough, not to mention cheaper. 😅
We watched the countdown on TV, and at the stroke of midnight, each ate 12 grapes as fast as we could and it was not easy! 😂
We also wore polka dots because it’s another Filipino New Year superstition.
We ate dinner, popped a bubbly wine, and binge watched Key and Peele on TV before going to sleep.
The next day, we sang some Karaoke using the mini karaoke machine that I bought on Amazon. It was actually Max’s idea, not mine, even though I’m the Filipino. 😄
He serenaded me with a love song, so I searched for one to sing to him as well and while going through Freestyle songs, an old fave jumped out at me – Til I Found You.
I was alone not long ago
Without a love to call my own
I was afraid and thought it wasn’t meant for me
I didn’t need anybody else
That was what I would tell myself
And I believe that that was how it would be
I used to think that I was fine
Oh, that I was doing OK
I didn’t know that I was blind
I just went on along my way
I didn’t know what I was missing
‘Til I felt your tender lips
Kissing my fears away
I’m so glad you’re here today
I never had somebody I could lean on
I never had a shoulder I could cry on
‘Til I found you, babe
‘Til I found you
As I sang, it suddenly struck me how the lyrics were more appropriate than I thought, and I started crying. 🥹
I’m glad to start 2026 off with gratitude, and I hope to continue the rest of the year with the same!
Happy New Year!
