“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.” – Unknown
Late Wednesday evening Dave gently announced to me that he wanted to have a dinner party Saturday, with some of his guys and their families at work. WHAT? Dave and I have been married 30 years this June and he has never done that. Of course “a colleague” might be invited over, but even that was rare. I invite people over, but still. I’ve never considered my self a great hostess, more of a great helper. I don’t like to be in fretful social situations. I’m an OK cook, “but wait, how many?” Oh about 10 he thinks. Well it was 15, two I had invited to just come on over, my Myeloma friend Jim and his wife Barbara we had recently gone to dinner with. They were in, and lots of red wine to bring over. Perfect. Dave has a colleague from the “old days” who lives in France, originally from Minnesota. Very intellectual. He is married to a Geophysicist and his daughter just got a free ride into Oxford. Then there is a guy Dave hired last year from Arkansas whose family had not been able to join him until recently. Trying to sell their little farm. His wife and 3 girls. Then there was a new young guy who is a single father, with a 4 year old son that everyone at work says is adorable. Then one couple I have met before who was very supportive of both Dave and I when he got sick, and they brought their adult daughter. It was a lively, eclectic crowd!
Dave helped me pick up the house Saturday morning, while I put the spaghetti sauce together. I decided to do lasagna, salad and french bread. Trying to keep something fairly easy. I kept back sauce in case any of the kids were “grossed out” with lasagna’s appearance to make spaghetti for them if need be and then some hot dogs. I had to laugh a little about that. If it were my kids, “EAT IT!”, someone else’s kids, “here honey, want a hot dog instead?”
At 1 pm, his colleague from France showed up so they could work. I had started putting the dining room table together when they needed to spread out on it. Oh well. Everyone arrived and the evening began. I had a hard time getting everyone moving out of the kitchen so I could put out the plates and salad and get them serving themselves. A good sign. They were enjoying the chatter. We didn’t have enough seating. So I asked the younger girls to sit on the stools at my kitchen bar and believe or not still have my high chair (a beautiful oak antique I used for my kids), for the little one to reach the counter. A few commented in total surprise that I still had a highchair. Yeah, well, I loved that chair and I did try to sell it but got no nibbles. Its one of those cute things you can stash in a corner with a teddy bear or something and it blends right in.
As soon as the little guy arrived I pointed him and the younger of the three girls in the direction of the Russian Nesting doll Dave brought back years ago for the kids. It goes from about 18″ to 1″ in hand painted dolls. They had a ball with it and it was a good icebreaker for them. It was fun to see it all opened up again. It had been a while.
So lasagna turned out a bit on the soupy side, but was yummy, yummy. The little guy ate both lasagna AND a hot dog.
And oh, I forgot to get sodas. We had wine and beer of course, but Dave and I don’t drink sodas anymore. So shoot! So I said to the teenagers, “listen I have juices, and I make these concoctions, you want to try one?” They were eager. So I showed them how I do 1/3 water, 1/3 juice, 1/3 another juice. If I had sparkling water I would use that. They were intrigued and I explained how it still tastes good but it cuts down on the sugar. Later when they asked their Dad for a refill and he started to get some juice they said, “No Dad, SHE mixes it, its really good!” He looked at me and said, “What have you done Lori?” haha
Dessert was simple – banana splits. About 1/2 partook, and some of the kids passed on the bananas and basically it became a make your own ice cream sunday sort of deal, which was terrific.
So I’m happy to report I survived. And Dave was very appreciative of my efforts. I really need to get better at this sort of thing. Living in California, we all prefer to do it outdoors. One of these days Dave and I will get our patio and it will be easier to do that!
Sarah, YOU MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD! I’m glad I’m not alone in this. I just kept thinking, these folks are down to earth, it will be OK.
Lori: I had to laugh at this post……because it reminded me of myself. Many years ago, we decided we’d do a large dinner – some of my family, some of Bob’s family & his “extended” family (people I hardly knew). There were 23, in all!
In those years, I wasn’t much of a cook. In fact, I could break out in hives just having to think about it.
It probably would have gone off okay if I hadn’t announced to the crowd “I really hate having to do these things.” I can still recall the shocked looks on everyone’s face (especially my mother and my hubby).
Thank goodness, the cooking and the hostess skills got better over the years. We’ve had other dinners, but I don’t remember if those “extended family” members ever came back!
Thanks for the smile!!
Sarah