R.I.P., New Years Eve.

Am I the only one who’s so ready for the holiday season to just be over? Not Christmas or Hanukkah, per se – I’m not a total grinch and love all the gift-giving that comes along with marking a pseudo-religious occasion each and every December. These holidays tend to be focused around family, gathering with loved ones (generally at someone’s house, as almost everything on earth is closed) and, again, the presents. Quite the recipe for a successful day.

Yes, those holidays generally pass pretty painlessly, made even more painless by all the new goodies you’ve collected, as well as the yummy leftovers that you can eat for days. It’s the holiday that sneaks up on you just a few days later that, if you’re like me, you just flat-out hate: New Years Eve.

Yes, New Years Eve. And why this holiday, more than the other holidays that happen around this time of year? It’s pretty simple, actually, if you fit the profile - young, single, living alone and working too much. But try to explain this to someone who doesn’t fit that description and almost inevitably you’ll be met with a blank stare or a really confused look. And for those of you out there, who just don’t get why I dread the evening of December 31st, allow me to explain.

How much are you willing to spend? $75? $125? $200? Because even though there are hundreds of hotels, bars and restaurants throwing intimate to enormous events, it’s pretty pricey to party that night, wherever you end up. Between reservations, transportation, new clothes, food, drink and excessive tipping to keep the sauce flowing, you’d better have some pretty deep pockets. Good thing you’re single and don’t need to also foot the bill for that special someone on this night, right?

Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight? Well, if you’re single and actually ventured out to celebrate, you’ll be hoping that this year, the song Auld Lang Syne lasts less than five seconds instead of it being seemingly endless. Because it’s a blast to watch everyone around you kiss their significant other, as the music plays in the background, while you try not to burst into tears, causing your new $23 mascara to run. And, if you’re single and at home, you’re desperately trying to sleep through the sound of fireworks and drunken revelers outside and/or calm down your frantically barking dog, who’s terrified of all the commotion.

What will you say on January 2nd, when everyone asks how your night was? The dreaded question – do you lie and say you partied like it was 1999? Or tell the truth - that you got all dolled up in your best pair of sweat pants, ate entire large pizza by yourself and watched a marathon of movies on the Lifetime channel or reruns of CSI? Wow, tough choice.

I’ll take extra cheese, please.