That was me, yesterday. Want to know the best way to become the hostess for your neighborhood’s first ever Fourth of July Block Party? There are 2 steps:
(1) Casually mention to your neighbors as you watch the fireworks on July 4th that it would be great if we could all get together and do something for the holiday next year; and
(2) One year after completing Step 1, as you are out walking your dog, tell your new neighbors that there were plans to do something this year, but no one really put anything together.
Yep, funny enough, that’s enough to make you this year’s hostess. And possibly hostess of the event forever. Because about 2 days after unknowingly completing Step 2, I had people approaching me asking what time the party was going to take place. “What party?”, I thought. And things only got more awkward when people started to approach me inquiring what they should bring. “Whatever…” I would reply. After all, I wasn’t in charge or anything. Oh but I was, I just didn’t want to admit it.
I wish I hadn’t fought it as hard as I did. When people started asking me about it, I should have put a plan together. I should have made fliers. I should have coordinated what people were bringing. I should have set an exact time for the festivities to begin. But instead, I was so busy trying to tell people that I wasn’t planning it. I mean, I don’t have time for another document, chart, or spreadsheet. I can barely coordinate dinner in my own home, forget coordinating dinner for people in 60+ townhouses.
But fighting it backfired. I mean, the party was great – everyone brought a dish or two to share, people came out of their homes and mingled, and the kids had a ball. The fireworks were pretty great too. But as I scrambled through the grocery store at 2:30 pm on July 4th, trying to make sure we would have food for everyone, I realized I had no head count to go by…so we guessed (and subsequently ended up with 16 extra frozen hamburger patties that are now sitting in my freezer). There were going to be no cute, patriotic decor. The time to purchase that stuff had long since passed. Oh, if only I had accepted responsibility for this affair and planned accordingly. And if I had one more person come up to me during the party and say, “Well, I just didn’t get any notice,” or “Oh, I didn’t know what everyone was bringing so I just brought this” or “I had no idea this was going on today” was going to scream. Is no one able to just wing it? Look people, I’m doing my best here.
So for Labor Day, I think I’m just going to accept that it’s my responsibility. Or maybe I’ll just stop talking to people when I’m out walking the dogs. It’s a toss-up.
Hilarious. Well, not the part about people saying things but about you saying things. That would probably happen to me too but you wrote about it way better.
Visiting from the Newbie Hop. Follower via Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/zoojourneys) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/journeyofthezoo/).
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Besos, Sarah
Zookeeper at Journeysof TheZoo
journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com
My husband likes to do that to me doing football season. It starts out with his dad and brother, then it’s all his buddies. Next thing I know they’ve got me making a hundred trips to the store lol
Ah, yes…football season. I’m right there with you! Sure it starts out by just inviting a friend or two, but then there are 30 people in my living room. Good thing I normally keep finger foods in our freezer!
Hi! Just joined the friday blog hop and discovered your blog. LOVE it! Can see I will have to pop by often, love the recipes for sure! I am adding info. on my blog geared towards young, single Moms, and I can see you might have a lot of inspiration for me!
follow me back! treasuringgrace.blogspot.com
Thanks and nice to meet you!
Haha! Well, look at it this way, you obviously throw the best parties! It’s like a backhanded compliment.
New follower from the Saving Game hop…. I also followed you on Twitter. I love the design of your blog. This blogging world is new to me… my page is undergoing an upgrade right now. You’ve inspired me! If you get the chance, please stop by Cave Princess!
Krista Morgan
http://www.caveprincess.com
That’s really funny because I can totally see that happening. When we moved into our house a few years ago all our neighbors told us we were in charge of hosting the Labor Day block party because that’s what the last owners of our house did. I guess that’s not so accidental since they are basically telling us to do it. I think I’m not quite as nice as you because we’ve lived here 3 years and I haven’t done it once.
Great blog! Looking forward to more posts. Found you on Friday blog hop, I’m following you, follow me back?? Thanks!
Hilary
http://www.ugobabyfitness.wordpress.com
Hi, great post. I found you via the Claire Justine linky party. I have linked in a post about the artist Chagall.
Hi, just came over from the Mom’s Monday Mingle! This is such a funny post…glad it all worked out in the end!