It's hard to know....
It's hard to know what to say about our party last night. Judi called to complain that I hadn't posted about it yet and I said, "but it's too soon....I need to process it." You can't argue with a big sister though so I will make the first of multiple posts no doubt.
Here's a picture at the end of the night. I hate pictures of myself but I love everyone else in the picture so much that I don't care.
l to r: Owen, Lucas Kane, me, Kevin Welch, Fats Kaplin, Kieran Kane and Ernie
Right now I keep thinking about all the people that helped make the night special.
The band, obviously...it's such a treat to love their music passionately and then also like them as people as well. They are really lovely men.
Mark Rubel, of Pogo Studios, and Jonathan Pines, of Private Studios, for lending the equipment
Kent Whitesell, for stepping in at the last minute and helping us figure out what to DO with all the equipment
Jeff, for stepping in and helping me with the last couple of hours of kitchen stuff----saving me when I was feeling tired and frazzled and making me laugh
Gail, for cutting flowers for me and arranging them
My sister Debbie, for sending me a HUGE, gorgeous bouquet of flowers (in the perfect colors for my dining room I might note)
Judi, for being with me in spirit every step of the way
Dave, for taking care of the fire in the front yard and ordering pizza for the huge group of kids that swarmed around his porch
The four friends who are bartenders at the Esquire, Mike, Tom, Mary and Amy, who all went in and brought us a keg of Bass and a case of Chardonnay...
Kim Cochrane, the only woman I will EVER know who, two days before she is going to have twins, would carve a Happy 20th pumpkin for me....
Sydney, Ann, Rob, Ann's Mom, Mel and everyone else who brought food
Fats' wife, Kristi Rose, for being so charming when they got here that I started to relax
Dennis, for leaving that great comment on the post before this
Kathleen, for bringing a cool tub filled with ice
All the people that brought cards and gifts and wine and beer.
Ann and Boo for cleaning up everything at the end of the night
Owen, for introducing the band perfectly. It went something like this and I'm SORRY Debbie, but no I didn't get it on tape... "Hello, thanks for coming. Kane Welch Kaplin is coming right up so get ready for some great music." He was rather pleased with himself. This was an improvement over the night before when as he was practicing he kept calling them MCCAIN Welch Kaplin....
Leo, for preparing activities for the kids. Here's a sign he posted above a Lego playing station:
I know there are more people to thank but that's all I can come up with right now. Note to self: next time you have a party...remember to EAT as well as drink.
But most of all....thanks to Ernie for being the whole reason for this all....