a thursday evening party

Tonight I am going to the 9th Annual Beat the Winter Blues party, hosted by a couple of Horace Mann parents, Ida and David.

A few years ago, when Ida and I were fellow moms at Horace Mann, we worked together on the school's annual benefit.  I must have gotten on her invite list back then, and am happy she has kept me on the list. 

I am not a party person, never have been.  I especially feel awkward in rooms filled with happy couples who presumably know each other well.  But it is nice to be invited, and I have no good reason not to go.  

It is an open house party, from six to ten.  I arrive around seven and the two coat racks outside the apartment are already filled.  Before I even make it across the living room to the bar, I see about ten people I know, most of whom I haven't seen in a while.  My fear of standing around alone pretending to be comfortable dissipates.

Ida makes all the food (except for the sushi and the most enormous shrimp I've ever seen);  it is impressive and plentiful.  I eat more than one dinner's worth, while sipping two glasses of some kind of winter sangria that is outstanding.  

Many of us know each other through our children.  So the first question is usually about the kids and what they're doing. I met  Shari in elementary school and her twins are already in grad school. Jennifer and Ida still have kids who haven't yet graduated high school; I am a bit jealous of them. But Chris has a son at Cal Tech and a daughter at Chicago; I am happy my son is closer. Once past the kids, the conversation turns to the adults and what we are up to. I don't have much to say about me. I do enjoy talking to Ed and what he thinks of the whole Brian Williams debacle.  He is a PR professional with experience in something called reputation management; his perspective is an interesting one. 

I come home sated with drink, food, and good adult conversation. I hope I stay on the list.