We’re celebrating the arrival of the New Year in Destin, Florida, with Mike and Diana, and I’m sure we’ll remember this one for years to come. This is a far cry from previous years, spent sitting inside watching a dumb ball drop on TV while the people out there seem to be having a wonderful time.

Last night, at about 10 minutes to midnight, we decided to walk down to the beach to mark the occasion.

I came up with a unique way to say goodbye to 2006, and began writing the year in the sand, for the ocean to wash away. I wrote it a half-dozen times, only to see the numbers washed away within seconds each time. Finally I backed up to a spot where the waves weren’t reaching. With four or five minutes left of the old year, I wrote it one last time, in an area of dry sand, up further from the water line. The waves came in and out several times, nowhere close. We all thought it would be cool if, somehow, the waves were to build up and wash away the writing right as the new year arrived. For the next few minutes, we stood around, took pictures, watched some people on the beach setting off fireworks, as others looked on from their hotel balconies.

Then with just seconds to go, sure enough, there was a surge in the water, and “2006″ was washed away right as the clock hit 12:00. We all laughed and cheered in amazement.

Diana took these pictures of Alison holding a cellphone with the time displayed:

Goodbye 2006. Hello 2007.