Deep within the burrows of my mind rests a quiet serene woman surrounded by warm lit candles, silky music, and fine wine. Usually, reality brings that legend to a screeching halt whenever I venture into this lifestyle illusion. Recently, I was inspired to create such a world within my extreme eclectic living pace. With two careers, a traveling husband, four kids, two stepchildren, and two grandchildren, there is always activity. The old homestead exudes amiable pandemonium at its most tranquil state. Undaunted, I was determined to release this oppressed side of myself by having a quaint little dinner party. You are familiar with the gathering of women of like minds, taste foods with wine in fluted glasses. The atmosphere would lay somewhere between elegant and charming.
The desire to manifest the perfect evening was displayed in the magnitude of effort I was willing to put forth. I arranged, cleaned, crammed, and disposed of anything that resembled clutter. I incorporated my eldest daughter and her significant other whom both possess culinary talent to cook the dinner and deliver it, before my guest’s arrival. Realizing that timing was everything for such an endeavor, I secured the entire family’s schedule. My husband was out of town that Friday evening, while my youngest daughter was to attend the school football game. My son was away at college and the others are independently self-sustaining. Perfect!
My guest consisted of two women I admire. El, a vibrant athletic, charmer, and Shea a personable, inspirational consultant . Both are upbeat, independent, enlightened highly motivated women with children out of state. What a pleasure it was going to be to indulge in a sensitive exchange with an essence of distinction.
This infamous evening is now laughingly referred to as “Moms great dinner party!” As I came home from obtaining a few extras like wine, candies for the dishes, flowers for the vase, a stunning realization! My husband is sitting in his big chair, my twenty something darling daughter is there running her laundry, my son has executed a surprise visit from college, and my sweet sixteen has her cousin spending the night, and they are awaiting a ride to the game. There is an immediate whirling of thoughts and visions in my head, like a puzzle tearing apart into pieces and swirling into a tornado. My husband caught on right away, and after a brief I love you have fun, was out the door to another job. His intuitive nature graciously removed him from the ensuing chaos.
The guests had arrived and the dinner had not. I poured wine and babbled in hopes that no one would notice there was nothing cooking. By now the siblings in the living room were right on target with their usual behaviors; the laughter and teasing rang throughout the house. The pre-dinner conversation was a feast in itself, however, I could not ignore that the three of us continually moved closer and closer to hear each other over the youthful ruckus. Hence, the arrival of the food! The front door swung wide as my two Chihuahuas and Siberian Husky bolted through the house and chased one another round and round. Oh, was this ever going to end? Again, the swirling of thoughts– why did I ever attempt this charade?
“Grandma!” shouted my five year old granddaughter as she took her place at the dinner table. ” I want to eat by you!” It was then that her beautiful brown eyes cast toward my guests as she exclaimed, “Oh, is great grandma here to? I hope she is.” There it was, in her assessment, we were a gathering of grandmothers.
By now, my entire tribe had assembled with plate in hand for a buffet free for all. My perfect picture was a broken puzzle, a vortex in my mind. El looked into my eyes and spoke up so eloquently, “You are so fortunate, so blessed. I would give anything to see my daughter at home on a weekend, and here they are filling your home, they come home to you.” The pieces suddenly stopped whirling and fell to the earth in one beautiful portrait. This is my life and I will embrace every moment with gratitude for I am blessed. Unique as it seems, chaos is perfect.
Tags: Valerie Kelly
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