It was 1977, about to turn 1978. Sam was going to be 17 in February, and Annie was 16. They had always had “kid” New Year’s at home with their parents. Now that they were in high school with their own cars, things were going to get more sophisticated in the party department, and Jan.1,1978 would be the greatest!
In those days, most kids their age had ancient cars handed down to them, usually held together with some combination of duct tape, coat hangers and body putty. Sam's was no different. They lived in a small town, so when they inevitably broke down, a friend would usually pass by and give them a lift. If not, hitchhiking was still “a thing.”
Sam and Annie were invited to a party two towns over. He had an older cousin, Marie, who just bought a house with her boyfriend and was inviting them plus people in their 20s, which meant plenty of booze, and maybe even weed! The drinking age was 18 then, and while they could pull off the occasional liquor buy, it was risky, plus they were always broke. They looked forward to a New Year’s Eve of drunken debauchery. They planned to call their parents once they were there and say they “broke down, they’ll be home in the morning when Marie can give them a ride. "After all you don’t want us driving with all those drunks on the road, right?” PERFECT! An epic night was all planned."
They set out for Marie’s house in Ipswich, MA, around 8:00 PM. They had her address and they were sure they knew where they were going. Most of Ipswich is largely spread out over a huge marsh. (A long road there is called “Labor-In-Vain,” which gives you some idea of our plight.) While they had an address, there are very few homes, and the signs were few and far between. There are no street lights, so it was pitch black. Soon they were hopelessly lost, just driving around hoping to find a clue as to where her house was, or a place to stop and ask directions.
Then sam's car died, predictably; he was barely able to roll it over to the side of a narrow marsh road (no shoulders). Lovely. To top it off, it had to be 0 degrees F. out; brutally cold, and made more so by the fact that they were on the edge of the Atlantic ocean. (They really had no business taking that junker out in the cold, but they were stupid teens.)
They had no choice but to walk. No cell phones in those days! They were convinced they were about a mile or so from Marie’s because they had seen her street sign shortly before the car gave out.
They were correct about the direction to the house but they had to walk about 2 miles in the freezing weather.
They finally spotted the house number and a brightly lit windows! Marie’s house! They eagerly banged on the front door and waited. And waited, no answer. There were cars out on the street, so they went to a back door- it led to the kitchen and had glass panes from top to bottom. They knocked, rattled the door, and shouted.
Again, no answer! They then took a moment to peer inside. Apparently the party started long ago and there was Marie, passed out cold (They hoped, was she dead?) on the threshold between the living room and the kitchen- just lying there!They never seen anyone so passed out drunk before or since. Usually someone moves “the body” or attempts to wake them. Marie was motionless, sprawled all over the floor as if she was some sort of area rug.
They didn't know where any of the other guests were, and it was now late, and as cold as ever.Sam and Annie looked at each other, wondering what to do. They were on the verge of frostbite.They had been walking for almost an hour,now they were shut out in the cold. Sam decided they should go back to the car; it was not heated, but they could hunker down and wait for someone passing to help. Annie told Sam she couldn’t walk another 2 miles; they had to rouse Marie (if possible).
They started shouting, howling and banging on the kitchen door- they felt someone from another house would hear them and call the cops, which would improve their situation immeasurably, but again- they were in the middle of a frozen swamp on New Year’s Eve!
Then next, Marie sprang to her feet and let them in, as if nothing happened. (They were seriously wondering if she was dead, and how long it would take them to freeze to death.) The rest of the party guests were in the living room, drunk, stoned, or passed out.
If you’ve ever had frostbite or “frost nip” you know how painful it is to thaw out. They were in agony, hands and feet long gone numb with cold.Sam and Annie just sat on the couch absolutely miserable, still shivering, and didn’t care much for whatever alcohol or food they were offered, or if it was midnight or not. The few other guests there was were semi-conscious; the ones able to talk said “uhh, hey.” Not exactly the jocular revelry they had counted on.
They eventually got out of the situation and didn’t die or lose They had gone beyond just disappointment-They were in pain, angry, hungry, and sadly sober.
Someone with a working car sobered up and drove them each home. Sam must have retrieved the car at some point, but if you see a rusted out 50+-year-old Ford Fairlane on the side of the road in Ipswich, you’ll know the story behind it.
They have no idea at which point 1977 turned into 1978, and it wasn’t because they were drunk. “Not dead” was as good as it got.