28th December 2024
It was the day of Steve and Jackie Kubica’s party, the highlight of our social circle, well if truth be known it’s the only light in our social circle.
It had been two years since the last one due to an illness that Jackie had suffered, the same old crowd was there, a bunch of colourful characters from Saugatuck and nearby Hamilton. We got there fashionable early as we weren’t sure how late we could stay. As it happened we left just after nine. Kelli had formed a menopausal group with most of the women her age. All I would hear was talk about hot flushes and anger, I knew all about that, I was able to reassure the husbands that there was life after death.
Of course prior to the party there is “What shall I wear” conundrum. This consists of multiple outfits laid out on the bed, hung up in the bathroom, and just about anywhere clothes could be hung. Then it is the slow progress of selection. Hours pass and Kelli gets more and more agitated, then there is the whittling down process, the fine tuning, then the final choice.
Minutes before we leave, there is doubt. A quick rethink, and we’re out the door. Don’t think it ends there, we then move into “I should have worn that” phase. That could last all evening , especially as it was warm in the house with all the bodies milling around eating and drinking.
On the way back there is the “I should’ve not eaten that” period, listing out all the glorious foods that were available, and the temptation that they offered. I, myself moved in to the “ I should have drunk more” excuse just to numb me from all the guilt she was suffering.
Once we got back, we entered the chill-out time when we need to prepare ourselves for sleep.
The excitement of the evening had to be calmed, with herbal tea for Kelli and a coffee for me.
As we lay in bed, we experience the “ I can’t sleep” moment, at which point I tell her a story, I drone on for about fifteen minutes sensing if that has been successful, I hope so, because after sixteen minutes, I’m asleep.
Another Lifetime to go 