Steel Drum Christmas Party

As I type this, it is 4:30 in the morning and I haven't slept yet. The party broke up around midnight, clean-up was easy since we used paper plates this time, and we were in bed before 2:00. My husband fell asleep quickly.... so did Gracie and the cats....but I was wide awake, and I'm still wide awake.

Our surprise at the party last night was a two-person steel drum band.... wonderful, beautiful, lively holiday music played by two talented musicians (brother & sister) on three bright and shining steel drums. They got here half an hour before the party began, and they started to play when the first guests came through the front door. Patrice and Jason played for two hours, with just a short break after the first half of their music.

The songs were so wonderful that people started to dance in the living room and the breakfast room. Then one of our friends started a "Conga Line" and that wound through the living room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast room.

I think the party began early this morning when our young friends C and L rang our doorbell at 8:30 this morning-- singing "Jingle Bells" as I opened the door. They came in for hot chocolate and quiche..... and we measured C on her special door (she grew over half an inch since the last time), and she hugged us and told us how much she loved that door.

C invited five of her friends to the party last night, and they all enjoyed the music as well, and started the second "Conga Line" dance. These teenagers have made such an impression on all of our friends. They are such a close group who get together for "game nights" every week or so, and they see each other in school and on weekends. They are all extremely well-mannered and soft-spoken and they have wonderful imaginations for making up games. I do believe that C is the "glue" in her group of friends. They will all miss her terribly when she moves out to Nevada.

Speaking of that, the plan is for C's dad to move to Nevada to start his new job later on this month. C and her mom will stay on here so she can finish out the term in school, then they'll put the house on the market and arrange to move during the summer. When C's mom was leaving tonight, she hugged me as if they were leaving town tomorrow and she had tears in her eyes as she signed the guest book. I knew right away what she was thinking--- that this would most likely be the last time they'd be here for our yearly Christmas party. A bittersweet end to the night.

I know I've said this before, but I will say it again.... this was one of our best, best parties. Fun and full of energy... that's how the entire house felt. It was just electric..... my husband's idea for the steel drum band was just a very special, magical touch for a great night. And the two musicians were such nice, nice people--- everyone could see that they truly enjoyed their music and their instruments, and they made the entire experience a night to remember.

We have lots of leftovers.... of course I ordered too much from both the Greek cafe and the Italian restaurant. I've already told some of our friends to come back tomorrow if they'd like to share lunch or dinner with us. And I have a hunch that young C and her friend L may just be ringing our doorbell in a few hours and singing "Jingle Bells" again for their breakfast.