The house birthday party

 

Lovely house party tonight with about forty guests. They fell into two basic categories—friends Jordan grew up with who have wholeheartedly made Christian part of their circle, and the old folks—my friends. The mingling was great, and as one guest said to me, “The energy of this group is really wonderful.” It was fun, for me, to visit with people I’ve know forty or fifty years—and one guy I probably hadn’t seen in twenty-five (a longtime friend brought him)—but also to visit with friends who’ve become part of my close circle in the last few years. And to watch the interaction of kids—okay, they’re not kids any more but that’s how I think of them, because most go back to their high school days. They may not want to think this, but they are now all middle-aged (shhh! Don’t tell Jordan). Several of them—including one of my sons, two sons-in-law, and the boy I always call my extra child—turn fifty this year. The one thing all those here tonight have in common is memories of good times at this house.

Jordan and Julia
accidentally wore the same dresses

Christian gave a lovely toast to the house, stressing how it had sheltered me in the main house and now in the cottage. He talked about how the cottage has sheltered others, including my sons, one of whom was here tonight, and a couple of newly divorced women—one of them was here too, in fact the one who gave my current home the name, “The Cottage.” Then he said he thought he came late to porch parties, but he was so glad he was part of them. Everyone raised a toast—a lovely moment.

One girl brought up the engagement party that Christian arranged when he proposed to Jordan—perhaps the porch party to outdo all others. He arranged for Jordan to be shopping in Dallas and spent the day cooking a huge pot of meatballs, writing notes so she had to go on a hunt, and finally enticing her out to the then-empty cottage. She crossed a path strewn with rose petals only to find him waiting in a tux. He got down on his knee and formally proposed. What neither of them knew was the Jordan’s siblings were hidden in the house—and bunches of her friends were at a house down the street, just waiting to come. We had sixty people—including a lot of kids—and we ended sitting on the lawn and singing old familiar songs. Yes, this house holds good memories.

I had two of my four tonight
Jordan and Jamie

I spent the evening on the patio, and at one point looked up to see Melanie, my Frisco daughter-in-law come out the door. Such great joy! She and Jamie are busy professionals, and I hadn’t dared hope they would come.

So tonight I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings of my life. One neighbor said I was “Queen Juju” holding court. It wasn’t like that, but I did stay on the patio and guests came to greet me—even mobility problems have their good sides. But to think that as I age, I am so surrounded by people that I love and who I love in return—such a blessing. I hope I can be worthy of all the attention I get.

All the credit for tonight's party goes to Jordan. People raved about how great the house looked, how wonderful the food. And it was all Jordan's planning and doing. I like to think she learned from her mother.

PS: Sophie had a grand time going from one to the other for love. Many of those here tonight were people she, like me, knows and adores. She is now tapped out in her favorite spot, tired but happy. I’ll follow her soon.