Over the weekend, I threw a going away party for some friends who are moving to Hong Kong. People came from far and wide, as far away as New York, to attend the festivities. This resulted in a group of people who are hardly ever all in one place. My stomach is still sore from all the laughing, the never ending shit-slinging.
On saturday night, NINE PEOPLE spent the night. Though one poor person had to sleep on a love seat, no one was on the floor. It was so wonderful to have a house full of people I love and miss so much. You could go anywhere and find another lovely friend to hang out with. Wander out to the patio? Fun friends! The kitchen? Friends! Upstairs? A friend to join for a quiet moment.
The older we get, the times when we are all together get fewer and further between. (By “all” I certainly don’t mean ALL. There were definitely many special friends absent from this gathering.) At times, I would look around at everyone, laughing, smiling, mothering, telling stories, and my heart felt like it was going to burst.
My friend Jesse is an amazing photographer and she took some great shots that day. They’re so good, it almost looks like maybe I hired someone to shoot it, like a wedding or something. Here is a link to the set.
And, just like a wedding, I totally have weekend let-down. I’ve realized that we were preparing for this party for weeks and weeks, getting the house and yard ready. All of a sudden, I’m aware that I didn’t think much about the rest of the summer after this event. It doesn’t help that after weeks of lovely weather, it’s rainy again, the grey skies matching my mood.
Here it is, Wednesday, and I’m still feeling gloomy. I know I should just be thankful for all of my friends. I AM very aware of how blessed I am, how lucky I am to get to know and love so many wonderful people.
But why does everyone have to live so far apart?
Ugh. I have no words to describe how sad I am that I missed such an awesome party. What a group! You’re right, we all live too far away from one another. But we have to keep our Boxing Day Tradition no matter what, ok?
Sometimes I feel like I’m getting over missing everyone, that the pain of our distance will end eventually. It’s been, what? Almost ten years since we were in college? Honestly, I don’t think the hole in my heart will ever go away.
I wonder if I’ll ever feel as easy with a group of people like I do with this group of people.
When we first got out and Mike and I got married/had kids, I kept thinking that once everyone caught up we’d somehow all end up together.
The distance between expectation and reality is often the hardest part to accept.
I love you.
Addled: You got it!
Jesse: Hugs to you, my friend. Maybe there is still hope. No one has caught up with you yet, after all.
I’m jealous. I want to be a friend. Send the NYers my way. You all look like so much fun!!
I am so sad I missed it. Gorgeous Pictures.
Danielle: Hi! Thanks for commenting!
We ARE fun. Where are you? My NY’ers live in Queens.
KLW: Aren’t they though? Jesse is such a good photographer.
Sigh. I can’t believe they’re really leaving. We finally start to get our lives under control and try to be social and the folks we’ve been MEANING to see for ages skip town. I need to start throwing more parties … thanks for putting the exclamation point on that intention! Bye Melver clan! You’re coming BACK right!?!?!?!?
Hey tacomachickadee! Reveal thyself. Do I know you? Can we be friends? Are we already friends?
Yes, please, parties are always good.
Oh my gosh! This makes me so sad and happy all at the same time. I love you all.
Hee hee hee … don’t know … do I know you? I know MANY of your friends. I’ve been running into our lovely photographer pal and her many babies all week, and “snuck” them into a BBQ on Sunday. She’ll know who I am. A fellow Lute. A peripheral crunchy mama. My billion kids and I were standing next to you during the firedancer performance at the Potter party last month … I didn’t know it at the time, promise. My husband mentioned it later …
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