On New Year’s Eve, I am reminded of my childhood, when my family would gather around the black and white television. We’d watch Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadian orchestra live from the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. And then, just before midnight, the cameras would switch to the old Astor Hotel. NBC Correspondent Ben Grauer would announce the dropping of the ball. Seconds later, when it was officially the New Year, we would open the windows of our 13th floor apartment and my mother would then let me run into the kitchen. A number of large Revere Ware copper pots and pans were hanging there. I grabbed two of the biggest ones I could find, then got a large silver spoon, ran back to the open window and banged those pots and pans for about a minute. Such was my New Year’s celebrations, which brings me to tonight and the realization that my youth was simply when I was allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. And today, I’m forced to. I still have my mother’s old sturdy copper Revere Ware pots and pans. But they will be silent tonight. No more loud banging, just quiet moments of contemplation of the year gone by, the people I’ve loved, the friends I’ve lost, and the hope that all of you have a happy and healthy New Year.