New Year's Virtual Party 2021/2
Welcome, all, to 2021's virtual New Year's Eve retro LiveJournal celebration.
First, I'd like to pause for a moment and hold space for all those who have suffered or passed on in 2020/2021, whether from Covid-19, other illnesses, injustice, economic chaos, and anything else. I acknowledge it's been a difficult year for many people.
If the best you could do in these past years was survive and hold onto hope, grace, and mercy, to the possibility of creating a better future, then that's an accomplishment.
As a way to slow the spread of disease and be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or geographical location, we're celebrating online.
And we invite everyone to click for free, without providing personal information, on GreaterGood, a network of advertiser-supported sites that donate cash towards hunger relief, environmental preservation, and medical research. https://greatergood.com/clicktogive/ggc/home
So, let's imagine a different, softer, richer, more creative and elegant world.
The sun blazes overhead, warming us as we wander through the native vegetation and shrubbery. We plant seeds for trees that will either endure over centuries or serve as a temporary flush of beauty and a carbon sink, and we are okay with either possibility.
We enter a sprawling mansion that's full of many rooms, each in a different architectural style, but blended seamlessly into each other.
Howard County Museum and former mansion in Indiana, USA
Some rooms have board games and card games and video games, and games for children of all ages, such as charades and 20 Questions. Others have various types of international music playing and people can dance in different styles. We've got modern streaming music as well as live performance of traditional music from around the world and an old-style victrola playing vinyl records (in honor of retro-LiveJournal).
Old time victrola
The doors are safely open to all and people are breaking down barriers and sharing intriguing ideas and recognizing our shared humanity while caring for climate and other species. Everyone is fed, sheltered, healthy and safe and we are able to connect regardless of class, gender, race, language, background or ability through unobtrusive translation technology.
Nondescript person of indeterminate race or gender standing in front of a set of digital terminals with displays
People bring food, drink, games, and music to share and there is more than enough for everyone. I invite everyone reading this to share some items that represent you with links in the comments, and to describe what you're doing at the party and comment on others' comments.
People of indeterminate race dancing against a purple background
Here are my musical offerings: Michael Franti's Sound of Sunshine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqgHosrqJ8o
and Phosphorescent's Song for Zula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcdOLKx2XG8
and my all-time favorite song, Lorde's Team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JuxM-snGc
As for food, I'm vegetarian and am carrying out a huge plate of roasted red pepper hummus and dolmas and bell pepper and carrot slices, and various flavors of wine, coffee, beer and fruit juice. And I invite everyone to join me in charades!