Nothing like a Open House to make you wash and iron the couch slipcovers and buy half of IKEA.
In December, the directors of the kids camps contacted us to see if we would host an Open House for prospective campers and current campers in our area. I was delighted and enthusiastically accepted. "Oh, won't that be fun!", I thought. I will let you in on yet another very important character flaw now, who I am in my head does not exactly match who I am in the world.
In my head, I can throw a party that rivals Ms. Martha Stewart. I can organize enormous get togethers, 30 families invited, at the same time I pick the children up and help with homework. All this hustle and bustle hardly disrupts my cheery disposition, causing the children to chorus, "Can we have a party every week, it's so fun!" I can welcome perfect strangers into my home with grace, making them feel comfortable with just a few well chosen words. I make relevant and heartfelt toasts and speeches in front of the aforementioned strangers with ease and everyone seems to wonder, "How does she do it?"
In reality, I have gone on an IKEA binge to re-decorate the entire house, and everything still seems like we just moved in. I have no idea how many people are coming because no one seems to want to RSVP anymore and I forgot to put my e-mail on the invitation. I have been freaking out about that many people I don't know coming to my house. I have been in such a grumpy mood, that the children are avoiding me, or I may just be paranoid. I don't know what to have for food, or drink, and I don't know how many cars we can fit in our very icy driveway. I also tend to say the wrong thing when under pressure, causing me to awkwardly smile and back out of the room. When I do have to make toasts or speeches, I ramble and ramble until I get so uncomfortable I just stop, and drink.
Now, the creative "To Do" list. I need to finish the blue painting, embroider some pillow cases I bought at IKEA, embroider the guest bathroom towels, knit a runner for the new behind the sofa bookcase, cover some lamp shades, and hand paint some tiles to install behind the stovefor a back-splash. SO... the Open House is on Sunday. Wish me luck!