new year evolution

Ahh 2008 is here!! Whoopeee!!! Its time to forget all that went wrong in 2007 because sure as hell there will be a lot that will go wrong in 2008 that you need to make room for in your heart and mind! My first new years night out was at my friend kimu's place in shegun bagicha. Those were the days i didn't smoke, i didn't drink, i was a good boy. Dull, but good. We all went to her place, there was a barbeque on the roof, Kimu's elder brother Miran was busy being an asshole to us (we were 16, he was 19, it was a big deal back then). We hung out, had some fun and i probably returned home. I don't really remember. The next year was i think the '93/94 new years that we all actually bought tickets and went to a party. It happened in old DOHS club and Mrs. Murshed of Scholastica helped finance the tickets. Those were the days when we were all students and we were all poor. Well not all, but at least us guys. We had just had a botched up concert in school (December school fair, Cryptic Fate & Friends) and Ehsan, the ostensible band manager, charged our school principal a hefty bill for the sound equipment and part of that money was used in sponsoring the tickets for the party. Is it any wonder i have such fondness for my old principal? She turned out to be really good to us all the time. For example, when it came time to apply to universities in America, it was her duty to give us recommendations in sealed envelopes. And it was our duty to send the sealed envelopes straight to the universities we were applying to without knowing whats in it. Needless to say, none of us kept them sealed. I opened mine and was thoroughly touched at seeing that i was touted as a boy of character as evidenced by my being a school prefect. I found this especially touching as i was never a school prefect! In later years, i talked to some of my old school teachers and they were all astonished when i mentioned that i was never a prefect, because they all thought i was. Strange. This may explain how i was able to get away with some of the things I got away with.

Anyway, on to the new years party. Ever since 1994 i have been enjoying new year parties every year and i have had only 2 duds. One was the millennium party (fell into a drain) and the other was the '04/05 party (raided by cops). The others have all had their moments of glory. This year was no exception. Most of my friends from London and the States were here and we all went to Radisson. The tickets cost 5000 takas and we all thought it was a bit excessive, although the money was apparently going to charity. However, i got my money's worth. The party hall was done up beautifully in lounge style with low chairs and tables and there was an open bar throughout the night and there was good food as well. The organizers certainly didn't scrimp on the hospitality part. The good atmosphere and the good company negated any irritation i felt at the mediocre party music being played. We danced, talked, laughed, ate, drank and generally engaged in being merry. And when the clock struck 12, we ushered in the new year with lots of hugs, kisses and emotional photographs. It was great to be there at that moment with most of my close friends. And it was then that i decided that this would be the last party i went to alone. Next year i will party hard and my wife will be there with me. It was beautiful to see all my married friends with their wonderful wives and even though i was with people i love i felt alone. And irritated. There was another friend of mine there who is still single and we spent a good 15 minutes bitching about the smug and happy couples surrounding us. About how happy they are, how loving they are, how they automatically act a little superior and mature simply because they're married and we're single. We both decided that we also want to be part of that smug and superior lifestyle and we both took an oath to celebrate the next new year with our spouses.

As is usually the case, this new year is already looking very challenging, both on the professional front and the personal life front. Professionaly, i have to work harder to establish myself and my agency as a creative spearhead in Bangladesh, and personally i have to find a life partner. There is also the little matter o my band. My guitarist Farhan is probably leaving for UK sometime late this year and i want to get another album out before he leaves. I hope i accomplish all the things i want to accomplish this year and i also wish you, whoever is reading this blog, the same.

Happy new year!