Remain In Halloween Without Despair
Halloween got off to a great start this weekend. Two of the local establishments that I visit each week offered free food on Friday and Saturday. Good times and costumes abounded at both places. The halloween dinner that my mom put on last night had a few problems that were dealt with as best I could.
The guests were supposed to arrive at 5:30 pm for wine and sparkling grape juice. Earlier in the day I had delivered the two beverages in brand new styrofoam ice chests, which were half full of ice. My mom and I showed up at 5:05 pm to put out the place cards at the dinner table and to take care of other last minute details. At 5:10 pm a carload of guest pulled in the parking lot. I told them that we had just gotten there and were still preparing the bed and breakfast inn that we had rented out for the party. These people politely waited in their vehicle. At 5:20 pm another two carloads of guests arrived and started piling in the door. At 5:25 pm the first carload of people decided that they had nothing to lose by coming in early, and they to entered the inn. There were no wine glasses out on the serving table. I informed the proprietor and started shaking hands with the guests. When I looked around, the wine glasses had been put on a table across the room from the ice chests full of beverages. I picked up one of the ice chests and started heading toward the wine glasses. The handles of the ice chest broke off and the ice chests fell to the floor; breaking open; and spilling wine bottles, ice and water onto the wooden floor of this turn of this turn of the century inn. The potential for water damage was great ! The owner came out and helped clean up the mess. I explained that I had bought these two brand new ice chests in order to prevent something like this from happening. I then shakily, brought the tray of wine glasses over to the one remaining ice chest and began pouring wine, while showing a minimal amount of frustration and annoyance. The guests sat there uncomfortably with little to say as I handed them glasses of wine and grape juice. The silence forced me to lead them into conversation about my upcoming vacation next week. When that direction lost its energy I even resorted to showing them pictures of my cat…
Dinner was served at 6:30 pm and the event took a more normal, lighthearted course from that point on. I later took a walk in the cool air outside.
Today is better,
I.C.