A new year, a new state

My husband and I had our very first date on New Year's Eve 2001 (and subsequently, our first kiss, New Year's Day 2002). Each New Year's since then, we have celebrated the holiday in a different state. We decided that we would travel to a different state for each New Year's holiday, just to see the country! We count that first date as having conquered Ohio.

For New Year's Eve 2002, we traveled to New York state, first to Buffalo for a few days, then to New York City to watch the ball drop in Times Square! What a great time! So many people, but so much fun!

For New Year's Eve 2003, we were living in Oahu, Hawaii, at the time. We had traveled there, originally to stay and to attend the University of Hawaii for a few years. After being there for eight months, we decided to come home because we missed our families too much. But we were lucky enough to celebrate the New Year with a kiss, knee-deep in the ocean on the beach watching fireworks in Waikiki!

For New Year's Eve 2004, we were back living in Northern Kentucky, and we decided to take it easy and headed down to Gatlinburg, Tenn. Neither of us had been there during the winter, and it was absolutely beautiful. The town was magnificently decorated and for the countdown to 2004, they had their own version of the ball drop from the tower in the middle of town. It was a wonderful, relaxing time.

For New Year's Eve 2005, we had just bought our first home, so we decided to stay close to home for our travels. After thinking about it, we realized that we had never spent a New Year's in our home state together, Kentucky! We took a short trip down to Lexington for two days, just to have a quick, relaxing mini-vacation. It was nice to stay close to home for once!

For New Year's Eve 2006, we had just gotten married in September, so again, we knew we couldn't go too far from home. This year, we went to Champaign, Ill., a fitting place to celebrate our fifth year of being together! We discovered this lively town full of restaurants, bars and other things to do. We rang in the New Year at a sports bar, after we watched what everyone thought would be Brett Favre's last game! Champaign is a great party town, if anyone is looking!

And for this New Year's, Brad and I have decided to travel up to Holland, Mich. My family and I are Dutch (my grandparents being native to the Netherlands), so with a trip up there, we can re-visit a lot of Dutch heritage and hopefully a lot of snow!

It is our goal to have visited all 50 states by the time we reach our 50th anniversary! So far, Ohio, New York, Hawaii, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois - and soon Michigan - are complete! We feel that this trip rejuvenates us, it re-kindles our relationship and it gives us time to travel with just each other, no other friends or family. We will let you know when we reach our 50th trip!

Angie Weyman and her husband, Brad, reside across the river in Highland Heights. Brad is a musician in a local rock band. Angie is a musican in the video game Rock Band.