Black, White and Blue Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve, 19-something something. Just can't remember the year.

We, along with a number of friends, decided we would all get together and go out on the town. Now you have to understand that we were not a drinking group. Along with us were a minister of music, an associate at another church and two daughters of ministers. Most of whom were Baptist!

There goes the fun! Just kidding!

There may have been a long beer or two at our table but I just don't remember. This was the kind of party where you had dinner, live music and dancing, and ringing in the new year with breakfast a little later on. We laughed and ate and listened to music till the wee hours of the morning.

We were giving our pastor's daughter a ride home so it was just the three of us in our car. Our sons had asked that we bring home something for them from the party. You know, like—hats, noisemakers, streamers and balloons!

Great. We had plenty of those since most in our group we're not carrying anything home. They politely gave us their favors to take home to our children.

We had a small car at the time. My husband and I in the front and my friend in the back - squeezed in amongst 10 or 12 - black and white balloons. I'm sure you are getting a clear picture of this and know where the story is going, right?

We start home, just casually put putting down the road - no traffic anywhere - when all of a sudden - blue lights in our rearview mirror! My husband glanced at me with questioning eyes, then glanced down at the speedometer. “What the heck?” he said. “I'm not speeding or anything. Why is he pulling me?”

Slowly we made our way over to the side of the road. In a minute, the policeman walked up to the driver side window and said, “May I see your license please?”

David asked the officer, “Why am I being pulled?”

The policeman leaned into the window just a little and said, “You have too many people in your car!” Then, realizing that he was looking at a car full of black and white balloons—paused, smiled and said, “You have a nice evening, sir.” And, walked away.

We turned around to check out the back seat and there, smiling among all those black and white balloons, was the sweet face of our pastor's daughter. I still don't know how he thought we could cram so many people in the backseat of that small car.

We went on our merry way home thankful that it wasn't something serious we were being pulled for. And, to this day when we see the preacher's daughter, we are reminded of that eventful New Year's Eve, 19-something something.

~ Jeannie Joyner