Today, Friday! Yay for most of us! Yesterday another whirlwind day. Office, last minute finishing up of the dratted IRS report, and then a call from home - Madeleine sounding desperate - third day of hives that come and go and when they come, they cover her from head to toe. When she takes two Benadryl, they disappear just as quickly. A mystery - no new environmental things going on. After waiting for whatever it is to resolve itself, and her symptoms worsening, I spent the rest of the day shuttling her between doctors, first the dermatologist, then the GP, then to the hospital for blood work and urinalysis - she has blood in her urine which is worrisome. I'll provide further reports in the next days as news comes back.
Then a quick stop at FoodStuffs because I had invited my tenants up for dinner and birthday cake (Mario's birthday). No time for the original plan which was cooking soup and making his favorite - red velvet cake. Store bought food it was. And a bit awkward at first - just Mario and me (he's 27 - what could we possibly talk about!?) I had counted on the girls to be a social element, but Madeleine took to her bed under the soporific influence of Benadryl and Elizabeth woosed out and didn't come. So Mario and I ate and waited for the other tenant Mark to get home from work.
So Mark, he is as exuberant as a mountain dog puppy. He all but bounded in, on all fours, and instantly the sedate atmosphere was transformed into instant party. He came hungry and wanting fun. A food frenzy - the boys laid on the couches and groaned and rubbed their stomachs. They are both personal trainers so whatever they eat, they'll probably burn off the next day. And you know what I love? I love it when people feel so at home at my house that they stretch out on the sofa - that's when I know they're like family.
Then an important decision - what game to play? Scattergories - dismissed. Yes to Farkel a great dice game. We take games seriously. We played and played and played and drank 3/4 a bottle of Grand Marnier which somehow didn't seem like a sissy drink when you were drinking it with young vital, muscled guys. We agreed it is the perfect drink - straight up, boozy and orangey with syrupy legs that meander down the sides of the glass and an orange amber color that refracts the light in the most beautiful way. And the smell....well the smell would probably be reason enough to pour a glass even if you never took a sip.
This morning Madeleine said her fitful sleep was interrupted by our yelling. When was the last time you were so invested in a game that you yelled at the top of your lungs? And I'm not talking being a spectator and watching a sporting event. I'm talking about total immersion participation - playing for keeps, a no-holds-barred contest. Who knew dice could be a contact sport? :)
And then exhausted and drunk on orange elixir, we sat back quietly with eyes closed and listed to Carla Bruni sing incredibly sultry, sexy French songs - probably her own compositions. Do you know her? She is now the 1st lady of France, married to the Prime Minister. She is also an heiress, an actress, model, songwriter, and performer. She is wow! Afterwards I sang three French songs and Mark and Mario were transported and so was I - out of body in a way.
So, as my friend Carol would say, "Fun, fun, fun!" I haven't had fun like that in a very long time - since Patrick. It was a most unexpected and enjoyable evening.
The challenge today is thinking about fun. I don't mean a little fun, like watching a comedy that makes you chuckle or playing a game and finding it amusing. I'm talking about a feeling like when you were a kid on a roller-coaster, or the exhilaration of racing your friend down the beach with your hair whipping and then collapsing on the sand and laughing so hard your stomach hurt and you felt like you were going to pee your bathing suit.. When was the last time you had that much fun?
Peace,
Sarah
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