revisiting the visit

First thing this morning, as soon as I got up, I rewrote my blog post of yesterday, but it had already gone out to subscribers. It’s a bit self-indulgent and petty. Lesson: do not write a blog post while tired and very sick. I’m in bed, still aching head to foot, have been through an entire box of Kleenex since yesterday.

What comes up when I think about these past days is the issue, yet again, of doing this on my own. Maybe I should write a book about being solo, LOL! I take entertaining and hosting seriously and want things to be right, especially, as I’ve said, for friends as discerning as these. But every single detail of the visit is up to me – what happens, how it happens, when it happens, the food, drink, house, ambience. I can’t turn to someone and say, Could you dash out and get some bread? Or help plan the menu, or take them to do something interesting somewhere, or help greet guests, or set the table, or keep the conversation going. On a one off, it’s not a problem at all; I enjoy it. But I guess over three days it wore me out.

The important thing is my friends and I spent time together in the warmth of my house; they ate well and slept well and saw lots of dear friends. I loved it all. They are both extraordinary people who’ve travelled to many countries and have five accomplished children. I was at their wedding in a village in northern France in 1971, and they were at mine in Vancouver in 1981. I knew their parents; they knew mine. That bond is priceless.

I must learn not to get so tense and overwrought. But then, I’ve been saying that to myself all my life.

Lesson learned? I doubt it. But I will be more careful with blog posts from now on.