January 2024
Fifty-Plus Years of New Years at the Beach
It’s cold or at the very least cold-ish. It might be rainy, windy or even snowy. So what do UUs do? Go to the beach! Of course.
For more than 50 years, UUFR members have enjoyed celebrating the New Year at the beach. The custom began in about 1970, when UUFR member Alan Downey organized a trip of a half dozen UUFR families to the Sea Hawk Motor Lodge at Atlantic Beach. A great location– it was right on the beach and the buildings were arranged in a U, allowing for a confined playing area for children. Alan brought a grill, and families–most had young children– shared communal cooking in the courtyard. Jane Hunt remembers that some of the children DID go into the ocean, but none of the adults. The beach was beautiful for gazing and walking, and, Jane recalls, the group welcomed the New Year with sparklers at midnight.
After Alan and his wife moved to Alaska (they liked it cold!) others (including Diann Irwin) took over organizing the beach trips. Kids were growing up and rather than grilling, the group often went out for restaurant meals; a spaghetti supper on New Year’s Eve became traditional. In about 1990, the location moved to Ocean Isle Beach (where it remains today). The Dorseys (Ken and Judy), had purchased a beach house there, which became headquarters for group activities, with other families renting connected units nearby. As the kids grew older, teenagers and college-age young adults rented their own separate cottage; Calabash became a favorite destination for seafood. In those days, about 25 people took part, with most people leaving on New Year’s Day (they had jobs to get back to).
For the last 10 years or so, Jo and Roger McFeeters organized the beach trips; nowadays, attendees are often retired people, with fewer families involved. This allows more people to stay through January 2, and a shared New Year’s Day dinner of ham and collards has become traditional. A large house is rented to serve as the gathering place, while participants rent other houses or stay in nearby motels. This year (2024 organizers were Danna and John Mattocks) more than 40 people attended!
Although there are communal meals on each of the three days, no one is required to participate in anything (how UU!). There are lots of walks on the beach (some people bring their dogs), games are played, puzzles are assembled, and conversations are shared. There might be group singing or other music. Someone may bring a motorcycle and share rides. Many years ago, when the group was still meeting at Atlantic Beach, the Pepsi Cola skydiving team, practicing for an event later that day, landed right in front of the motel on New Year’s Eve day. That was exciting! And, remembers Jo McFeeters, everyone enjoyed being together on New Year’s 2000, staying up that night to make sure, despite some predictions, that the world did NOT come to an end.
It is a relaxed and happy time, and a wonderful UUFR tradition.
–Blog by Lynda Hambourger, with information from Jane Hunt, Diann Irwin, Jo McFeeters.
–Picture caption: Linda Rogers (in the rear seat) enjoys a motorcycle ride provided by Robert (Jeanna) McCoy at UUFR Beach Trip 2023. Photo by Beth Flanagan.
