That Buzz Before A Party

 We've lived here since '01, and I truly enjoy hosting parties here. Wifey -- not so much -- but she's usually a good sport.

We moved in in February of '01 and my friend Dan Pals, who was acting Dean of Arts and Sciences at UM, came for a visit. He loved our place, and had a humble request: could the College use our house to host the farewell to outgoing UM President Tad Foote? They would handle all catering and set up -- but it would be probably 75-100 people. Wifey agreed, and she and our friend Allison went on a tear -- getting the place decorated in record time.

The College did a fine job -- even hired a valet service and a piano player -- and it was a lovely event. I welcomed The President, and told him a tale he loved. When he first came to UM, in 1981, he visited my on campus apartment to see how they housed Honor students. Barry and Eric were there, to our less than luxurious quarters.

Tad loved it -- things came full circle, and an alum who graduated under his watch had done well enough to at least buy a big ass house. My Mom was there, and he thanked her for letting her son come to UM. It was touching.

When I turned 40 we had another big event -- a clam bake. There was lots of eating an drinking, and our firm's associate Albert and secretaries Norma and Andrea chipped in and hired a banner plane -- it flew over with birthday greetings. I stood up on the second floor balcony overlooking the guests, and smiled. I fantasized I was Gatsby.

We had many Passovers, breakfasts, Thanksgivings, and parties for the Ds and Wifey, too.

But lately, on account of the Plague, there have been no events larger than the 15 we had for TDay last November. This changes tonight.

D2 and Jonathan asked to host D2's 30th birthday here, and later today about 40 millennials will descend upon us, with a stray Boomer or two, for the party.

Their friend Carson planned the whole event -- she's an exec at City Furniture, and one of these tall, beautiful young women with whom one does not mess. She directed everything like a pro party planner -- similar to the way D1 operates. She hired the caterer, moved stuff around, and came last night with her handsome, dutiful husband Andres, Jonathan's work colleague, and Michael, another dear friend and work colleague. They did a LOT -- the house hasn't looked this clutter free in quite awhile. There are now colorful blinking lights -- Sonos music coordinated everywhere, and lots of adult beverages awaiting mixing and consumption.

My job has been to stay the hell out of the way, and I am, if I don't say so myself, acquitting myself well in that regard. As I write, I have Tom Petty playing. Things will switch to hip hop this afternoon.

And there IS a wonderful energy here -- excitement, anticipation -- for the Ds' dear friends. One, Ashley, flew in from Atlanta, and will stay here tonight. I DID have to fix a shower curtain in the guest bath, and did complete that task...

Most importantly, the Plague seems well in retreat. All the guests are triple vaxxed, and many have had breakthrough infections. After Wifey's recent bout -- 3 days of a crappy cold, and then total recovery -- none of us fear the virus like we have for most of the past 2 years. 

Besides -- Russia seems poised to invade Ukraine -- we have other risks to deal with.

But for this afternoon -- it's Livin' the D2 Loca.

And it's nice to feel our collective mojo back.