Invitational

Any excuse to throw a party. Some people just love to be celebrating, surrounded, entertaining, making toasts and the like whenever an opportunity arises. Even if fictitious when necessary. On the phone with a friend recently she professes to me that 'we have a lot of parties for you'. Alright, so this is a wee bit confusing cause I am typically not the reason for a gathering, and while on the most part am fairly open and willing to attend a get together; so with the exception of my most recent birthday I can't recall there being a reason or occasion that I would have been the guest of honour. Then came the question as to how I missed all of these parties? "Whenever I need some money it's cause we're having a party for you. I just go to him and say we're throwing a party for you and BAM...$100." She of course follows up by telling me she hopes and prays all the time that him and I don't run into each other on the street one day. Umm ya, cause me who can't lie...Lucy'd have some 'splainin to do. Another friend who commonly throws her own milestone parties, in addition to long weekend bbq's, going-away and welcome back soiree's, etc was planning her very own 35th birthday event at her open, spacious and unpretentious abode. Partly because I had overlapping plans, and partly cause I didn't want to have to converse in an artificial manner with all of the other guests who would be acquaintances of mine, I said I would probably not be in attendance. In her classic retort I received a "that's stink" response, coupled with some disappointment and surprise. But I guess I'm getting choosy in my own old age? Since then she has teased saying that we're no longer in high school and shouldn't be into the habit of asking "who's gonna be there" before committing a yes checkmark on the R.S.V.P. Alas...as it turns out she forewent a party for an opportunity to travel for the week. Guilt be gone! Ironically, my very own high school friends did happen to like throwing the odd shindig. I remember, and still every so often look through the snapshots from what were always 'theme parties'. I can remember Goth, 80's and Celebrity look-a-like, all rotating hosts from each others' place. While like a lot of folks I have lost touch with many or most of my high-school buddies after decades ago studying together, I do happen to usually catch up every few months or couple of years with a long phone call or dinner out, and was pleasantly surprised to see that through a facebook connection one of those very friends who was typically one of the leaders in the party planning days is still keeping up with attending theme parties. Albeit a wee bit more grown up in nature it seems. While I prefer intimate groups and am not so drastic as to subscribe to the '3s A Crowd' mentality, I have known some to be afflicted with the syndrome in the past. No fun. I think a nice number of 6-8 per gathering is just great. Maybe it could have something to do with my constant need to have attention on me, I'm not certain. Until very recently I could never understand why there are always so many more people in attendance at the reception portion of the wedding rather than the ceremony. To me, it was always easy to judge those who only showed up for a dinner and open bar but didn't find the actual deed entertaining enough to attend and thus arrived fashionably late...missing a venue entirely. Apparently it comes down to seating, where only family and close friends might be invited to the ceremony due to capacity in the chapel, gazebo, etc. I guess I can't relate since being raised in big Roman Catholic buildings, they can hold any size guest list. Who knew? And then comes the exit. Who dares to be the first? Where's the bride? Has anyone seen the host? While I probably resemble and take on more mannerisms of my father than I'd like to admit or have pointed out, one annoying one I don't mind is not liking good byes. I don't know his beef, whether it's the sadness and finality of it I'm not sure, however mine is just the deed. My friends are baffled at my habit to just up and unannounced head to the door, dawn my shoes and say I'm leaving. If you're riding in my car, best get up and follow too! Let's get real, you have had enough, been there, saw so-and-so, and now you're done with it. No need to grasp the usual 'you must be tired', 'gotta work in the morning', 'long drive ahead of us' crap. No need. Just go. Any excuse to leave a party.

Toodles