Tonight is my first time hosting my book club gathering, and the holiday meeting at that. I'm excited about it, but I've also been nervous about it for so long that honestly, I'll be kind of glad when it's all over.
All of these women are my friends, as Gregg keeps reminding me, and there's no need to be stressed out about it, but I've enjoyed their hospitality so many times in the past that I feel like I should do extra. And of course I want to both impress my friends and show them how much I care about them. Hence the menu is a tiny bit.....excessive, maybe? I've spent a good deal of money not to mention the effort that I'm putting in to make sure the food is varied and delicious. The oven part of my stove mysteriously quit working over the weekend, then rose from the dead (a Christmas miracle!) Monday morning, nixing any plans I had to serve homemade cake and cookies. I like to think that the oven knew I needed to go a little easier on myself, and so gave me an excuse to serve store bought sweets! I still managed to make dark chocolate rum balls on Sunday, since you only need to melt chocolate over a burner for those.
The house is clean as a pin. I've worked on that for almost two weeks, deep cleaning from top to bottom. I went out and bought new candles to add to my Christmas decorations, and we hired a guy to come and repair the front glass storm door (it had been malfunctioning since we moved in) and to add a door to our little half bathroom which had never had one. I want the house to look and be its best tonight. If I'm honest, I'll admit that a big reason is the fact that with only one or two exceptions, these women are all much more financially well off than I am. They all have large, beautiful, beautifully decorated homes. I love our little house and am proud of it, but it's much, much more modest than any of theirs. That's why I want it to be extra clean and well kept and Christmas-sparkley. But....These are your friends my husband would insist. And he's right! It's going to be fine, and we'll have a good time. I'm sure of it. But what a relief it'll be when the last guest leaves tonight!
I took a personal day off work today to finish everything up at a leisurely pace. That being said, if I don't finish my coffee and get off the computer, I'll be in trouble. So off I go! I'll share some party photos in a few days if all goes well. Wish me luck!
(1) add a door to our little half bathroom which had never had one - WHO THE HELL builds a bathroom with NO DOOR?
ReplyDelete(2) these women are all much more financially well off than I am - SO FUCKING WHAT! they are human as you or I am. money ain't everything. you should be PROUD of your beautiful home.
(3) now get out there and kick some ass, cause YOU ARE AWESOME!
As to the door thing....I know, right?! From the master bedroom you were looking at a toilet and sink. Ugh! I'm so glad to have a door.
DeleteAs for the friends with more money....seriously, no one has ever hinted at anything having to do with that. They are among the least pretentious, stuck up people I've ever met. All that insecurity is inside of me, and I hate like hell to admit it. It's a leftover from growing up very poor.
Oh my! I feel your stress, but seriously, these women are your friends (to echo Gregg) and I'm sure they're not being Snoopy Sniffer. (Remember those commercials?)
ReplyDeleteThey will not be Snoopy Sniffer, you're right! :) As I said to Anne Marie, I grew up poor and I still have feelings of insecurity because of it. That's on me, not them.
DeleteAlthough we can sometimes (often!) figure out why we feel the way we do, it doesn't always mean that it makes us apt to do whatever it is that we're doing.
ReplyDeleteAt least in my experience.
I know that it's going to be a beautiful evening and you'll end up wondering why in the world you were so worried but I also know that worrying is part of it. And hey! You got your house all nice and clean and you'll be able to enjoy that for a long time after that last guest departs.
Have fun!
Things will be fine. Enjoy the compliments, you'll get quite a few.
ReplyDeleteIt will be beautiful, and fun. Think how much Marco will like this.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you feel so insecure, and you are very brave to admit it to us - your friends, too, right?
ReplyDeleteIf I were one of your friends to come to the book club night at your house and I'd happen to read this post, it would make me feel really bad. I would feel guilty for getting you so worked up and stressed out.
Probably none of your friends have any idea of how you feel about this, but I am sure they love you not one bit less if they should discover a spec of dust (which they won't) or if you serve them one less item of food!
The best hostess is the one who is happy and relaxed to see her guests arrive, not the one who wants to see them gone ;-)
(I know you don't mean it like that - I am just exaggerating a bit to help you see that all is well - they are your friends...)
Hope it went well and that you had a good time!
ReplyDeleteNo need to wish you luck you have it already !
ReplyDeleteFor all the fancy homes, if your home is cosy and loved it will show. Now your all ready for Christmas.
parsnip xx
At one time I was always the poorest person in any group. Eventually I became one of the wealthiest. I never looked down on anyone who didn't have a house as big and fancy as mine, and I never felt that others looked down on me when I lived in government subsidized housing. I'm glad you got that bathroom door because not having one must be creepy. I'm sure the group will appreciate your efforts.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie, who is not super rich anymore and doesn't care
I am sure that all went well.
ReplyDeleteIt is too late for me to wish you well. Besides, I have just seen the headline in "The Florence Morning News" - "COPS CALLED TO BOOK CLUB RIOT! HOSTESS WENT BERSERK! PARROT ESCAPED!"...I am sure it all went swimmingly well.
ReplyDeleteYou Christmas card just came back... messed up address again ! My Brain is really pinging all over the place. I don['t like it. So your card will be very late ! Again !
ReplyDeleteparsnip
Oh, please don't worry about that! Several of my cards are going out late too. Thank you sweet friend!
Delete