Susan's Blog

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Birthday Presence

I am thinking about my birthday a month early for some reason (it’s just there, in my head), and what I want to do for it. Maybe because it is cold down here in the diningroom for the first time all season, and it’s crisply blue outside. The colors are like stained glass, so sharp and sparkly. Fall light. It’s early, and yet, I have to make the plan.

I think I figured it out: a costume party! My birthday (October 18) is close enough to Halloween that it is the right season. That would be my present: to see all my friends dressed up in costume. Another wish: that my friends who moved to Florida would be here for it, you know who you are.

We could cater it with all kinds of spooky foods and decorate of course in some manner that would please me and create an atmosphere. I’d probably do Casbah meets 1313 Mockingbird Lane.

I always lose my nerve somewhere along the line with these things. It’s been a while since I had an all-out party here. How do I hold onto this feeling?

I guess I would ask Nat’s teachers to help prepare him for all those people in the house at night. Maybe I’d have someone here for him, but I don’t see how that would work. Maybe he’d want to dress like Zorro, his usual. But it would not be a party with kids, so he’d probably just be upstairs. How would that work? I don’t know if that would be okay with him. Here’s what I wish: that Max would invite him in to watch a movie with him on his new TV. Nat loves Max’s bed. He also loves Max, who is always kind to him. They could sit together; Max at his desk, on his laptop, and Nat on the bed, lying on Patrick the huge stuffed dog. Ben would probably stay away unless we rent The Matrix, which Nat loves (all that falling off of buildings). Hmmmm. Then maybe all three could watch together. That would be another present.

3 comments

That sounds wonderful. I am just a month behind you in birthdays, I am a November baby. I always missed out on beach birthday parties. Oh well. I am looking forward to this Halloween because I don’t have to dress as a pumpkin this year!

— added by Mom on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 9:14 am

It’s been a while since we had a big party too [for similar reasons] [and that some of our guests have children with similar issues too]

Last time we set up the spare room with a safe ‘movie’ and pop-corn for small people and hired a baby sitter to look after the half dozen small people. I wouldn’t describe it as successful but it was manageable and less stressful.
Best wishes

— added by mcewen on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 1:15 pm

I’m always looking for an excuse to wear my Star Trek uniform!

— added by eileen on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 5:26 pm