Photo: COURTNEY BLETHEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Above are Richard Sclafani and Peter Cicero, co-founders of the hugely popular “Glow-Year Glasses” that you see everywhere during new years. The glasses use the 9 and 0 of the new year as make-shift eyeglass openings, and this past new year — 2009 — marked the end of an era for the two men. You see, 2009 is actually the last year that these glasses can be made to use the new year’s numerical digits.

When 2010 rolls around next year, it’s unlikely that you’ll see these glasses around because the 1 in 2010 just won’t be suitable for seeing through.

Anyway, it’s interesting to read how these two men went about their business of creating these glasses. It started as a doodle and in the past 19 years, they’ve sold over a million of these things (the actual number of glasses sold in the likeness of these Glow-Year Glasses is probably much higher because of the numerous knockoffs).

Anyway, for years I can remember these things selling like mad at the wholesale store that my family owns and it’ll be funny to see what takes its place next new year’s. I guess there’s always still hats and horns and glow lights.