Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Unspectacular

You are invited to my Unspectacular Party!!

You will receive no invitation in the mail, let alone a cute or clever one. I will not clean my house before you show up, and the food I serve will be from recipes I can't seem to nail. (If I cook at all...maybe I'll have my party on a Tuesday--dollar day for Chicken McNuggets.) Don't wear anything new or cute, and you'll really be in trouble if it's stylish. If you'd like to bring a dish to share, feel free to bring something bland, burned, or otherwise flopped. Our activities will not be creative or productive and the entertainment will be boring. But really, how can you pass up an opportunity to feel a little more spectacular knowing we all have a little bit of un-spectacular to share with each other!

Here is why I am hosting this party: Within one hour yesterday I cut my finger slicing bread, found my laptop covered in blue marker, discovered pools of runny poop all over the play room, and sent my daughter to a birthday party in a levi skirt stained with berry juice from our morning field trip to the strawberry patch, carrying a present in an old wedding gift bag (keep in mind, I've been married 8 years) stuffed with streamers since I couldn't find the tissue paper. None of this is an exaggeration, unfortunately, so I'm really a great candidate for the hostess position.

But events in Blacksburg, VA yesterday kept my own pitiful day in perspective, reminding me to count my blessings, and be thankful for each moment I'm given. I will humbly take the unspectacular over the incomprehensible, grateful to be planning parties instead of funerals. My heart goes out to those families, as I sign off to take care of my own.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I woul like to RSVP for the Unspectacular Party.

I add my own experience of two "blowouts" up the back, on the carpet, in the feet and anything nearby. A VERY last minute, creative meal for two hungry elders. And the reason I am up at 2 a.m.. A dog who just had to go out in the pouring rain. Then wanted to come in and thought the white guest room looked more like a big dog bed to dry herself. A regular trifecta of un-spectacular.

But, I won't wake up with a lifetime of horrific memories of unnecessary loss. Or be devestated today about the loss of my son or daughter. Perspective is everything.

I will live in hope for a peaceful recovery to the students and members of that community.

And while the day here seemed a bit long, my mind and prayers were across the miles to a college town in Virginia. Thanks for your post Amy.

Mandee said...

Thanks for the perspective. I was just feeling really grumpy that someone in my house changed the channel 15 minutes into (TiVo recording) Lost, for the 2nd week in a row. But, yes. That is ok.