Fantastic Friday

This has been a week of absolute fun!  First, I’ve had a whole week with three dogs – Paisley, Katie, and, of course, Lady.  Paisley had to go home, last Tuesday.  The rest of this glorious week has been spent getting ready for the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild Vendor and Volunteer Annual Dinner.  Actually, it has taken about a month to get everything ready.  Time was when it took a week, but now that I’m old, it takes longer.  Rita M. helped a lot with getting the decorations ready for a smooth set up.  Nancy W. went with me to the venue to decorate for the dinner.

Over the years, I’ve been able to streamline the getting-ready phase of organizing a dinner, like the one for the rock club, last Friday.  Once a year (if COVID doesn’t rear it’s ugly head), we hold a show and sale of rocks and minerals.  Vendors come from near and from far away; club volunteers help with set up and take down, and they staff the exhibits and demonstrations.

The buffet was the Wrigley’s Chicago American buffet.  It was, as always, a terrific buffet,  Then, there would be dessert, supplied by me.  Orders need to be placed.  We expected more than fifty vendors and volunteers to attend the dinner; to accommodate the desserts and chocolates, I ordered one hundred each, cupcakes and chocolates.  That assures that every person who wants two can have two.  Leftovers go to the kitchen at the show for snacking.

We dressed the tables with blue and white plastic table cloths, white flameless candles, and gold, blue, and silver strings of beads.  The chocolates went onto small plates and, then, onto each table so they could be enjoyed at the whim of the attendees.  The tables were finished with lights in the shape of gems and sprays of every color with stars.  It felt as though we had exploding fireworks on each table.

When Nancy and I finished the set up, we had time to enjoy something cold to drink – lemonade and cola.  We knew we were ready to have a party.  Guests began to arrive about 6:15 pm; dinner would be sometime between 6:30 and 7:00.  Club president Joe was kind enough to pay for dinner for Nancy and me.

A year has passed since I’ve seen club members in a place where we were breathing the same air.  Because I don’t drive at night and attend club meetings by ZOOM, I realized just how much I’ve missed seeing them.  It was so pleasant to talk with them and share experiences from this past year.  And, the venue is high enough in our foothills that looking out of the windows, one can see the city spread out in all of its glory.

After Nancy and I restored all things to boxes that we would be taking home for next year’s dinner (decorations and such), she drove me home.  It was dark, of course, and she had agreed to drive me home after the dinner.  The next day was the start of reorganizing for next year.  I have special shelving in my garage for storing everything for the dinner party.  Batteries must be removed from the flameless candles and gem lights to be stored inside of the house – not in the cold garage.  Strings of beads must be sorted and single colors tied together.  Extra table coverings, small plates, etc., need to be organized.  Different items must be placed in separate boxes, properly labeled, where they will stay for a year; on the shelves in the garage.  This all makes the next year’s dinner easier to produce.  The activity of destructing the party will take me about three weeks.  As I’ve said, I’m old, and it takes longer these days.

Next year is the sixtieth anniversary of the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild (or as I call it, the rock club).  Sixty years is a LONG time for any organization in today’s world.  I’ve promised them a “blow-out” for that party, and I’ve started planning for it now!

I love to have given a party.

Be Safe and Be Well.
The Cranky Crone
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