Made it thru, no surprise. Went to pick up AJ at his brother's. When I got there and knocked, Jan opened the door, invited me in, and I quickly had to go to the bathroom..... ah the joy of water..... We sat and talked for a while, then AJ and I left. Apparently when I went to the bathroom, AJ said Jan had looked surprised when she opened the door, and then talked to his brother in the other room. We think that they had planned for snacks, but when she saw me she decided it would be better not to offer or mention it. Wise decision. They haven't seen me since last year, though they knew I was going to RH.
We got to the hotel - it was a nice place, but very busy in the parking lot and front desk / lobby. The room itself was nice, clean, quiet. Able to sleep comfortably, tho some aching as at home we have a pillow top mattress and on my side an extra foam top because of my pain. Sad thing about the room - they had one ply rough toilet paper. Really? Big fail there.
We got to the party. And the socializing really began. I smiled a lot and looked at the yard....and the house. They have a very nice place! Some people have that touch, I wish I did. Our place always has that lived in look, instead of the glossy magazine photos. I know, those aren't real places to live in, but they look so well put together and clean.
The host and hostess (Bev and Perc) were of course, very gracious. They had cucumbers/celery/other veg out, they confirmed my dinner meal - yes, please just steam the green beans and asparagus for me, thank you. Made sure dill and olive oil was ok on my salmon. (yes). They offered me sugarfree cranberry drink (no) and strawberries for dessert (no). They were fine with me having my carbonated water, chips and chocolate bar. Then again, the way everyone was drinking - there were 5 couples in total, no one really noticed. They are all old friends so there was a lot of 'remember when' stories, and although AJ is part of the group we don't see them all that much, there were also a lot of stories of recent get togethers that we hadn't been to. (Which is fine, like a wedding - I can see we weren't invited to it, very small gathering) They talked of topics that I really don't have much opinion on - Trump, golfing, drinking, Portugal, the wedding...
So I just smiled and listened a lot. When I could comment on something, I did.
When I was more with just one person, like the hostess, I was able to talk more/ socialize a bit more. I do better one to one, or two to one then I do in large groups. I know this of me. It wasn't as stressful overall, it was just...well, just boring for me. AJ had a good time, and enjoyed seeing / talking with them, and that made me happy. I find watching the people interesting too, especially as they drink more and more. Not in a judgmental way, just how they react, swirl the wine in the glass (I wonder if it will spill) impressed it doesn't go all over the floor with the amount it swirls! Watch the movement of the people getting together to personally talk, things like that. And of course, study the decorating, yard too.
We were on the front porch, waiting for our ride, and the host was out there with us. He looked worn and drunk and .... - sad - isn't the right word, not really sure what word is, but just so 'going thru the motions' kind of personality. He was a lot like that all night. I could see they both enjoy hosting very much, are good at it, like the people, it was ... he didn't talk much. Then again, he was like that the last time (first time I met them) too. An overseer, ensuring everything was running smoothly and no one was missing anything. Always making sure there was wine available, food offered etc, important that everyone was enjoying being there. I'm not meaning it in a negative/down way, and the hostess was more upbeat, it was just what I noticed with him. Wondered if he was like that in more areas of his life, which I think he is as he talked on the porch about his job (accountant). It was just the way he talked on the front porch with the two of us that made me think on it more.
Don't think we will see them for a while again. Funny how that is with AJ's friends, he has a lot of friends, yet we rarely see any of them. Me, yup, I don't have very many at all, and I rarely see them, tho I do talk on the phone with them more. (AJ doesn't even do that, but when they get together, they pick up where they left off....and remember when......)
Next big social is AJ's family/friends Primo party at the end of this month. Basically they all get together - about 100 of them - and play golf (not me, and not AJ anymore) then have dinner and socialize. Ahhh, those are family so there will be a bit more people for me to chat with at least.
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