Starting the New Year With a Bang
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121904)
Gainesville, Florida
January 2, 2021 11:38am CST
Most people were very happy to see 2020 behind them, as it was a rough year for millions of us. All in all, I thought 2020 was a pretty good year for me, and really had no major complaints, although I did go through a rough patch around mid-year. But I pulled myself through stronger and happier than ever.
So, my goal heading into New Year's Eve was to make it out of 2020 unscathed. Technically speaking, I did. No major disasters to close out the year. But 2021 didn't get off to the smoothest start for me. Minutes into the new year (around 12:05am), I was lighting off fireworks (I was able to score some pretty big mortars from a friend who owns a fireworks business), and I was hit on my left rib cage by shrapnel/debris from a launching mortar. I was at what I thought would be a safe distance from the mortar tube, but was hit hard enough that I questioned whether I broke a rib. I think I dodged a bullet there, as it doesn't feel like my ribs are damaged, but I do have a pretty nasty bruise on my side.
I'm still perplexed at what happened. The mortar launched just fine, the fireworks exploded in brilliance in the sky as designed, and inspection of the mortar tube afterward revealed no defects or damage. So I'm still not sure where the shrapnel/debris came from that hit me. But I'm alive and well, happy to be safely into the new year, and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead in the future.
I hope all of you got your new year started off on the right foot.
33 people like this
31 responses
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Maybe it was more serious than I thought. I have a very large bruise on my left side of my body! But I’m not in any kind of pain or anything, so I must be okay.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@paigea Me too! I don’t hurt at all when I move, bend or lift, so that is a good sign. Must just be a superficial injury.
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (82122)
• Onaway, Michigan
2 Jan 21
My new year isn’t ok so far. Glad you was not hurt worse than what you were.
5 people like this
@Tina30219 (82122)
• Onaway, Michigan
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc Still not 100% from my surgery and it is depressing me
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Oh no, how come your new year isn’t starting off good?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@Tina30219 I’m sorry to hear that. Recovering from surgery can sometimes be a slow, painstaking process. Hope you continue to make progress each day.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
2 Jan 21
Glad you didn't get hurt seriously, I've had some friends ending up in the ER on New Years Eve. Usually young and optimistic men ;-)
2020 ended with not one bang, but a lot of them. The public fireworks were cancelled, 'cause it's much safer to stand in groups and watch private fireworks than watch public fireworks. So half the town must have used all the money they've saved on not being able to travel for half a year on fireworks, it was going off constantly from half four til well after midnight.
2021 brought me a new horse, a new job and new car, so not just bad, but some months got a bit too stressful and boring.
4 people like this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc It did show that many people came out of 2020 with no financial problems at all, 'cause to buy that much fireworks costs a fortune.
I just watched everyone else spend their money :-)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan 21
@Torunn I was thinking the same thing back in July, when we celebrated our Independence Day. There were so many people shooting off fireworks that I thought it was single-handedly keeping our economy going. I guess people weren't doing so bad financially after all if they could afford so many fireworks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
I agree that some months were stressful and some were boring, but at least we made it through it.
And I know what you mean about all the private fireworks. It was the same here. Fireworks going off everywhere.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41919)
• United States
2 Jan 21
That was a close call! Glad you didn't break any ribs. We're hunkered down even more, so many people around us with the virus.
5 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
It was only me, my girlfriend and my kids shooting off the fireworks. Well, my son and I were shooting them off and the girls were just watching from a safe distance.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
I wasn’t even drinking! Lol. And I was being very safe in lighting the fireworks. I guess I was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan 21
@noni1959 Fireworks are mass-produced in China, probably by child labor earning 40 cents a day. It's unrealistic to expect a lot qualityl
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10113)
• United States
5 Jan 21
@moffittjc I'm really glad you are OK. I remember one year, a small firework didn't light, so as my son started to head back over to relight, it caught and took off. They can sure be unreliable.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
For the past 21 consecutive years, I played it very safe by spending New Years at Disney watching their fireworks show. But they cancelled their fireworks this year, so we had to take it upon ourselves to continue the show.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@CarolDM People ask me if I ever get tired of it. I don't. Each time I visit, I feel like I haven't been there in 20 years. It's like the magic starts all over again for me each time I visit.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc I would visit Disney if I was that close too.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
12 Jan 21
Hello Jeff, glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt but it sounds like it was a close call. How the hell are you apart from that? 
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
12 Jan 21
@moffittjc Yeah will be nice to get back to normal. The UK is in a pretty dire state with the virus at the moment. Glad to hear you're doing better now.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jan 21
@sprite1950 We're all in a pretty dire state right now with this virus. I just hope that they continue rolling out the vaccine as quickly as possible so we can all get vaccinated.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 21
A lot of changes have happened in my life over the past six months, all for the better of course. Went through a rough time for a while, but now I’m doing much better and will be looking forward to a great year!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Thanks Judy, happy new year to you too!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50781)
• United States
2 Jan 21
Thank goodness you are okay . It could have hit your eye.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jan 21
@Tampa_girl7 That's the way I look at it. Got to start the year off thinking positively, no matter what is thrown at me!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
That’s exactly what I was thinking! I’m so glad it didn’t hit me in the eye!
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (109081)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jan 21
Glad it dont seem broke. I went to bed right after midnight. So a very good start
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (109081)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc I would take that as sign to stop also.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@wolfgirl569 It definitely was a sign to stop, but ironically, it was the very last mortar we launched, so even if I hadn't gotten hit by the debris, I would have still called it a night and went to bed! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
I went to bed right after midnight too. Lit off a bunch of fireworks, and then called it a night when the shrapnel/debris hit me. I probably was asleep before 12:30.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Thanks Dianne. And the funny thing is, I was really trying to be super safe and careful. I wasn't even drinking! lol
Looking forward to a wonderful and prosperous new year!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc Not drinking was your problem. It acts as a preservative.
Enjoy 2021!
Enjoy 2021!1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104825)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Jan 21
So far the year 2021 started our good for me and my relatives.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
That’s great to hear! Only 363 more days until we close out 2021! Let’s make it a great year.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104825)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc I am with you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jan 21
In Florida, when you purchase fireworks you have to sign a waiver saying that you are using them for either farming purposes or to scare birds away. I guess that's technically the only legal use of fireworks in our state. But it's a joke, no law enforcement agencies actually stop and check people who are shooting off fireworks on NYE or 4th of July.
3 people like this
@NJChicaa (120476)
• United States
2 Jan 21
@moffittjc The law doesn't stop people from going over to PA and buying them. It is so obnoxious. We are too densely packed to safely have fireworks lit in neighborhoods.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@NJChicaa It’s like that in most places in Florida too. But that doesn’t seem to stop the idiots from shooting them off anyway.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc
I am glad you were able pull yourself through your rough patch. Not all are lucky. I am so sorry what happened to you,. Are you at home healing?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Around summer time last year I had some health issues that I had to address, mostly related to stress and anxiety. But I'm much better now.
As far as the fireworks accident, I am still going about my daily business as if nothing happened. I'm a little sore, and have a big bruise on my side, but other than that I am fine.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc
I am so so sorry about what happened to you around the summertime and what happened now. I hope the bruise heals soon.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@Hannihar I'm going to wear this bruise like a trophy for the next week or so....
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
4 Jan 21
You are quite lucky. That's why they recommend you leave the fireworks to the professionals. I have seen some near disasters happen. Years ago when my kids were young, this teenager was letting off fireworks for the 4th of July. He was setting them off near gas tanks!! I yelled at him and told him to move them before he blew us all up!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Jan 21
@moffittjc at least you try to keep the safety of others in mind.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan 21
Okay, I'm not stupid enough to light off fireworks near gas tanks. My stupidity is at a much lower level! haha
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc Yes, I remember. Hope you're not too sore.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@jaboUK I don't feel any soreness or pain whatsoever right now, so I take that as a good thing. Maybe it was just a "warning shot" from 2021 not to get too cocky that I survived 2020! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
Yes, I broke my ribs before when a rope swing I was swinging on broke and I fell and landed on a tree stump. Same side of my body as the firework mishap.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317805)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Jan 21
Jeff, that's not the way to start off the new year. I'm glad you didn't break any ribs.
For the first time ever, I couldn't stay up until midnight. However, I was awake at midnight, heard the fireworks, and went back to sleep. I'd say it got off on the right foot.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jan 21
I think that next year—if I’m not at Disney on NYE—I’ll just stay home and go to bed early.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan 21
@just4him Well, the plan every year is to spend Christmas and New Year's at Disney World, but if that doesn't happen for some reason in 2021, then the plan will be to go to bed early.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317805)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jan 21
@moffittjc Now, that sounds like a good plan.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan 21
@JudyEv It did get a little more colorful, but it's fading fast now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 21
@moffittjc Oh wow! That does look nasty. Can we have an update in a few days? It might be even more colourful by then.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44814)
• Staten Island, New York
4 Jan 21
You definitely started off the new year with a bang. Ouch! Glad you are ok.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jan 21
I still have quite the bruise on my left side. But thankfully, no pain.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan 21
@lovebuglena I used to wake up in the morning with what looked and felt like paper cuts all over my fingers. Never did figure that one out.
@lovebuglena (44814)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Jan 21
@moffittjc Sometimes I notice a black and blue on my leg and I am like Where did that come from? I don't remember banging into anything.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183254)
• United States
3 Jan 21
Jeff! I'm sorry to hear that you're messing around with the big boys. I'm glad you weren't hurt worse than you were. Good to see you here. I think 2021 is going to be awesome once this COVID crisis has settled down. At least that's what I'm hoping!!! (Knock on wood)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
I don't think things will return to normal until the majority of the population has received the vaccine, and unfortunately it's going to take a while to get the vaccine rolled out to everyone. I think the first part of 2021 is going to be much like 2020, but we'll eventually turn the corner and get back to normal life. I'll just be happy when the day comes that we don't have to wear masks anymore!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121904)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jan 21
@LindaOHio That's what I'm afraid of, having to wear the masks for the entire year. I mean, it's not so bad and I'm quite used to it now, but it sure will be nice when we won't have to wear them anymore!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183254)
• United States
3 Jan 21
@moffittjc I think we will be wearing masks throughout most of 2021, even after the vaccine has been administered. There will be a portion of the population that does not want to get vaccinated.
1 person likes this
