Gatherings

How funny, it starts out as a harmless get together and turns into a full blown house fixer-upper...

...I always wonder why we don't host more gatherings. And now I know why. It is unbelievably exhausting!

Let's start with the food. You contemplate for hours on what to serve. Maybe you don't want the usual on-the-grill food, like burgers and hot dogs. Maybe you want to Martha Stewart it up with a gourmet entree and side dishes that will have everyone asking "how did you make that?" Then there's the task of delegation. Oh the drama! As every guest asks "what can I bring" you must find and evenly distribute the items that they can bring to feel included in your gathering.

Then there's the question: to serve or not to serve alcohol? Let's do the math... 9 adults + 4 children = do we want so and so to rant and rave about their wild college days under the influence or would we rather not offend anyone tonight?

Or rather what do we do for entertainment? Do we become brave and arm everyone with water guns and water balloons? It will be over 90 degrees and perhaps would be a welcome way to entertain and amuse. Or maybe we shouldn't because guests could be wearing high-dollar apparel. At a cook out?

Then we come to the cleaning. Oh, the dreaded cleaning!! Spot clean the carpet. Clean the kitchen. Clean the bathrooms. Clean, clean, clean. Then the yard work. You don't want people to have to walk around dog poop and weeds. I couldn't imagine a more horrifying fate.

Yes, this all started as a harmless gathering, to do as one must do in the summer. But now I am spending my last hours up until the moment people arrive "preparing" for the event *sigh*

Maybe I'll suggest someone else host next time...I surely won't complain when I am asked to bring a side dish.