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A new year brings with it promise: for fresh starts, for new directions, and for hope for magical love connections. An analysis of Craigslist New Year’s Eve Missed Connections reveals more amore, more passion, and more regret than usual among local romantics, who hit the town in hopes of locking eyes with someone special in 2011. These are their stories.

1. New Year’s Eve date fantasy spoiled by bad timing at airport

   An attractive redhead who was “unafraid to display that great smile” on a flight from Charlotte caught the eye of a local man, who immediately “started to have visions of us at New Year’s Eve.” He engaged her at the baggage carousel, but when his bag came, he left, a move he “instantly regretted.” A great NYE connection that almost was.

2. Local woman revels in presence of hot guys at 14K Restaurant

   Among the hot guys spotted by this 24-year-old partygoer: one in a blue striped shirt and one in a “hot black suit.” Not among the hot guys: her date. Refusing to be held back by her “not hot” date, this die-hard romantic was “totally loving the view” and proposes that if any of these hot guys see her post, they should “continue ringing in the New Year ; ).”

3. New Year brings out the bitter for one local snoop

   “Happy New Year,” one man writes to “D.” “I plan on making it the best one yet.” He adds a postscript: “Nice vacation pics. Looks like you two love birds had a great time.”

4. Reston man unable to respond to Missed Connection but takes opportunity to make pun

   “I was out with friends and some guy grabbed by butt before midnight,” the man writes. He found the fellow attractive, but reiterates that he was “with friends” and unable to respond. “Long shot I know,” he says, but he’d like to reconnect with the “guy who grabbed my ‘attention.’”

5. New Year’s Eve dance brings out longing for ex, insecurities in local woman

   A single dance at the Clarendon Grill on NYE led this woman to apologize for not being more aggressive, tell a man he was the spitting image of her last boyfriend, and humbly thank him for “showing a single gal a good time.”

6. Talk of NYE resolution in a Manassas Harris Teeter intrigues local man

   “We chatted last night in the bakery section as you were selecting cheesecake,” writes the love-struck 31-year-old. Talk turned to New Year’s resolutions. “I thought you were attractive and a bit crazy for thinking you need to lose weight,” he says, following with a smiley face emoticon to reassure her that he doesn't mind a little crazy.

7. Woman named Brittany inspires posting in manner of William Carlos Williams

   In what appears to be a tribute to the great American poet's work "This Is Just To Say," one woman writes to another the following verses:
   I miss you sometimes......
   Mostly when I am alone in bed.......
   Which is funny because we always slept on the floor......

8. NYE hangover and raging insecurity interfere with Best Buy romance

   Laments one Fairfax County man: “I really don’t know WTF is wrong with me. Why on earth did I not make any attempt to get your phone number (other than the fact that I felt like a weird 27-year-old man who still plays video games)?” Adding to his troubles: a severe New Year’s Eve hangover. He concludes his post by promising to go pass out.