a new year's day party (lyn)

Late this afternoon Alexander and I head over to Laurie’s house.  Laurie is new to our book club, having just joined this fall.  Upon meeting her, I immediately liked her.  I am happy she invited “Lyn and family” to her open house party and I told Alexander a couple of weeks ago that we’d be going.

But now that the day is here, the whining begins.

Why do I have to go?

This is your friend, not mine.

If it were around the corner, I wouldn’t mind so much, but it’s all the way in Chelsea.

Who else is going to be there that’s my age?

How long do we have to stay?

What if I make dinner tonight; can I stay home if I do that?

I have cold, I might give it to someone.

I am still hung over and won’t make a good first impression.

An adorable three-year old boy sits behind us on the bus.  His mother overhears our conversation and asks,  “Is this what I have to look forward to?” 

We get to the party and it is packed with people I don’t know but who seem to know each other.  I am rarely comfortable in this kind of situation.  I am much better in a small group.

Eventually we see some people we know who have a daughter Alexander’s age.  “Is Lauren here?” I ask.  Lauren was a classmate of Alexander’s in elementary school and is now a sophomore at Wesleyan.  “Are you kidding?  She wouldn’t come.  She’s probably still asleep.”  

 Alexander turns to me and says, “I’m outta here.”  And with that, he's gone.  I stay and enjoy hanging out with old friends.