Coming Up For Air.

I can hardly believe a week has flown by since Rocky discovered the joys of the ScratchScroll. Luckily, he's still enamored of it - so much so that he's already plucking up bits of the tight industrial carpeting that covers the surface of the kitty sine wave. Lucky too in that the lounger kept him quiet during my mother's birthday party.

Party. Right. Didn't mention that. This was an important one (platinum I think) and she wanted a homey, intimate gathering at my place instead of a restaurant or the like. We'd been planning things for a month and everything was under control until last week's power outage. Now, there was an air of uncertainty over the impending festivities. Would the power stay on? Would the weather hold? The freezer was off long enough for the food to spoil but, thank jeebus, I hadn't yet purchased any perishables for the party.

Later that afternoon, I got a call from someone whose a voice I'd never heard before. It was KnitPastis! She and her husband were visiting Chicago for a few days and she asked if I would be interested in meeting up at one of the local yarn stores. What is the sound of one arm twisting?

What a lovely couple! He, a man of few words (at least in the few minutes we were together), and she, a petite natural beauty with a faint Southern accent. We only had time for hellos, hugs and a few pictures before I had to run. Grocery shopping for mom's party and a body that hurt like hell kept our meeting from being anything other than rushed. Too bad, too. Next time, more time for a meal and relaxed conversation.

Friday was CRAZY busy! My mom was at loose ends. She and my brother arrived late and prep was still required for two dishes. She was the one holding the recipe. Guests had begun to arrive and I could do naught but answer the door in bare feet with a spoon in my hand. By the time I popped the cork on the champagne and poured the mimosas, things settled into a rhythm of serving and seeing to my guests comfort.

I was worn to the nub, but all the effort was worth it. I originally wanted to send her to Italy but my circumstances have changed since that promise was made. In my mind, a party at home just didn't measure up. That's why, when my mother hugged me goodbye, I apologized because it was so much less than what I'd wanted for her. She held me a bit tighter and said that, for her, this was better than Italy!

I sighed, put my feet up and napped more comfortably than I had in days. It was over. She was happy.

Now it's almost Wednesday again. Where did the week go?