Arrrgh!!!

This household has been working for the month of May to be ready for Friday, June 2, 2006. Yesterday, about half of our exercise class came to a potluck brunch, and the quilting bee came for our monthly evening meeting.

I've been washing interior windows, gardening, cleaning out closets (to make room to hide more stuff!), planning seating and getting dishes and linens and glasses ready, and yesterday it all came to fruition.

About five or six years ago (perhaps seven...we're a little fuzzy on how time flies), Elegante Mother was planning a trip to London to see the Chelsea Flower Show. I was worried that all the walking was going to be difficult for her, so we enrolled in an exercise class for adults. EM made the trip, enjoyed herself no end, and we stayed with the class.

Over the years we have had a change in leaders, and the class has grown, but we've stayed with it. EM exercises in the NW corner of the room, and I'm all the way across the floor at the SE corner. Of the 44 people registered, I know the names of 38-40, and we go early to chat with our friends before we exercise.

For the past two or three years, the class has been coming here in May for their birthday celebration. We go to brunch once a month to recognize all the people who have had a birthday that month. I have a devoted reader and friend, who thinks I'm crazy to open my house to such a large group, but she would understand if only I could express the joy it gives me to be able to share my home with my friends, and make them comfortable and welcome.

Without a doubt, this is the nicest group of people I know. Some of them came early to help me with the final setting of the tables. Everyone brought a delectable dish to share. Two ladies saw to it that we had adequate folding chairs, and another brought flowers cut from her garden that morning.

As the first of the women arrived, they brought the news that there had been a bad gas leak about a mile and a half west of us. I was concerned that some of our newer members might not be able to find us from the east, so we delayed lunch a bit to give everyone time to straggle in. When it looked like they were all present, we had everyone come to the island to serve themselves. I was seated at the smallest table, and was the last to sit down. Shortly after I sat, one more guest arrived, and there was a rush to sample her Vidalia onion casserole. Only two people who had planned to attend didn't make it. We'll have to find out Monday if they couldn't find us.

Each carload of ladies, as they arrived had a story to tell about how they managed to get around the closed road. One of them told us that the policeman who was redirecting traffic started asking "Are you going to the luncheon?" Unfortunately, he gave each car the wrong directions, and they all arrived steaming.

The meal was superb, the companionship and conversation equally wonderful. And that's where words begin to fail me. They gave me the loveliest card that talks about friendship and support. I know if I had a need, I could go to any of these people for help. They are the most amazing support group. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

This has gotten long, so I'll talk about the desserts in another post. I just wanted to share what a wonderful day we had.