Birthday party planning is fun!

Birthday party planning is fun! Over the years, patrons of Molly's Virtual Pub have heard many funny stories relating to setting up an adult party, but few quite like this one. One of our most laid-back patrons, who we call "Earth Mother" for the large and close-knit brood she raised, has dropped in with a few of the girls and is regaling them with the particulars of the ongoing preparations. The poor thing doesn't look as perky as usual, doubled over like that.

I've been polishing silver all day
My hands getting black, by the way
And clearing out clothes
To accommodate those
Of the out-of-town guests who will stay.

Children will be coming in from out of town and even the ones normally chained to their desks will break away a few hours to attend. The daughters, most particularly, have been emailing thoughtful reminders from this coast and that one to Mom and Dad about attending to this or that little thing to make the day go smoothly.

Fifty folks will be dropping in soon
If you look at it right, it's a boon
Spring cleaning deferred
At last has occurred
Chasing cobwebs out from my cocoon.

All the chandeliers cry to be clean
And the woodwork, a task herculean
And I sure empathize
Hercule's enterprize
In cleaning those stables Augean.

Every sheet, towel, and surface we lave
As myself and the cleaning crew slave
To scrub wooden floors
The windows, the doors
The appliances, range, microwave.

What's this? Is the poor thing is ambivalent about all the hubbub? Collateral relatives and dear friends brought the guest list for this adult party to quite a group, all delighted to wish her the happiest of birthdays in the comfort of her very own home, the only one large enough and central enough to hold them all. And the whole affair will be catered. How delightful!

Then the ovens with all of their racks
And the furniture screaming for wax
Cleaning closets and drawers
Washing fixtures outdoors
And the deck just about broke our backs.

It would seem there is more to birthday party planning than meets the eye? What funny stories! The adult party is a very different bird than cake, ice cream and a clown, is it not?

Then the lists that I had to prepare
To tell hubby just who should be there
But that list was just dandy
And came in really handy
By and by for this festive nightmare.

Because some folks forgot to reply
And it's my job to call and ask why
On the simple account
Hubby needs a headcount
For the catering folks to go by.

We have not heart so much angst since a bride's mother suffered a nervous collapse last June. Planning a birthday party at home...hm...

But that's not the end of the calls
Repairs to some shelves and drywalls
And carpets with stain
In my little domain
And other such rank overhauls.

Including, apparently, me.
My daughters called especially
In the midst of this toil
To remind me to foil
And buy a new dress, certainly.

I am grateful that my family
Decided how nice it would be
To throw me a bash
With my very own cash
And throw this darn party for me.

Egads! Caterer counts? Carpet cleaning? Ovens, windows, woodwork? Repairs? Closets? Dry cleaners? The whole house wash down seems to be creating a melt down. Let us hurry over there with an aspirin and another white wine. Is there a masseuse in the house?