Party

The lovely woman across the street from me, Karen, has invited us yet again to her holiday party she has after Christmas. Rick and I hate that we are across the street so she knows if we are home. So we can't say we have plans and will be out.
Gee, can I develop a severe illness that soon?

This time when she invited us I gave Rick an out.
I said I would love to stop by (nose growing) and that Rick has a long day on Friday so it may just be me. She said she understood that and looked forward to me being there.
Damn.

I told Rick that I gave him that out and he was thrilled with me.
Well, I've been married now 25 years in a day or two so I kind of know him.
If he was going he would be complaining about it.
Bad enough we have to go but then I have to have a whiner. No thanks.
I told him I would take one for the team.

While this is a very nice older woman this is not his cup of tea.
For that matter, it's certainly not mine either. But I can wear a Peggy face and Rick can't. In the past, this is just her family and a couple of her friends. (her children and their kids)
They are very nice but boring and the food is boring and it is all so white and waspy. I know that sounds mean. I'm sorry but it is what it is.  Lovely, kind people just not party people. No one is an extrovert so you have all these vanilla quiet people just standing there. It's so odd.

I know I see this through loud ethnic family vision so I get that.
This is probably what most of America does, just not anyone I know or am close to. One could sleep in a chair or on a sofa at this party and not be bothered.
My father would love that. Although my father could have slept through any of our parties, for some reason that never bothered him. I think because our family is loud, gregarious and always laughing so he was used to that type of noise.

Last year I stopped by with some goodies and had a drink and chatted with her kids who are all in their late 40's and 50's. It was all about their children which is not so much fun for others who don't know your children. But I wore my Peggy face and smiled and asked questions. My real inside voice was screaming LET ME OUT OF HERE!
They loved the appetizers I brought and that too was a topic of conversation - see how boring?  Oh, it's all so vanilla. No music, just standing around looking at one another. I am dreading this.

I will make something to bring on my lunch hour today.
I bought blinds this year to go on my front window along with my drapes.
Like this.

At night you can see right in so easily and let's face it Peg doesn't like to always wear pants. Last night I was wearing one of my favorite shirts of Rick's. It is just an inch above my knee. But I don't need the neighbors seeing that. So I close the blinds. Well, Karen doesn't like when the blinds are closed because she says she can't see if we're home. Ah, that is the point! Before she would see our TV on or some such thing and she said she felt better knowing we were home and just across the street. But she can see our car so I don't get why that made a difference. She asked why I got those and she giggled when she told me she had comfort when she could see Rick and I walk around our house. Eew, creepy.
I told her for that very reason, if you can see in so easily so can others.
I don't care for that.

My first week living here my neighbor's father was here helping her move in.
I was in my bathrobe. Because this is an open floor plan you can see from one end of the house to the other. I was at the fridge getting milk for Rick's coffee.
I put it on the shelf, or so I thought and let go and milk went everywhere.
Now we have boxes everywhere we are not moved in completely.
No paper towels. I just ripped off my robe and used it. I was naked underneath.
I stood at my kitchen sink and looked over at the same time my neighbors Dad walked by and looked in and I fell to the floor. At that exact moment, Rick is coming down the staircase and says, "Margaret why are you on the floor?"
And as he comes around the island he says, "Oooh boy you're naked on the floor!"  I crawled to where the fridge was so I could stand up and then ran up the stairs. All the while my hubby is asking what is going on? Why is your robe wet? What is all over the floor?

So you see, I don't like everyone looking in and seeing me clothed or unclothed.
Her father was gracious enough to say he didn't see a thing. I doubt that.
Poor guy, I probably scarred him for life. While Fran lived next door her father who was closer in age to us than we were to his daughter would come over and share wine with us. He was the greatest guy. He passed this year from cancer.

Think I can tell that story to the vanilla folks across the street? Yeah, think not.
Obligations suck.

I hope your holiday parties are fun with people you like.

I leave you my end of the year memes.