Fired Up for 2012

Yesterday, the day before the Opening Ceremonies, was called "Super Thursday" and indeed it was super. I still can hardly believe our great fortune -- the Olympic Torch Relay went right below our flat!  We draped an American flag out the window.

And we threw a party!  Lots of our school friends who've not yet jetted off for their summers came, as did our beloved babysitter and the proprietress of our corner pub. It was the perfect kind of party - snacks, great fellowship, and pitchers of Pimms. We transformed our flat to an international celebration. In keeping with the theme, we had friends from Spain, Brazil, Chile, France, Italy, Ireland, England, Portugal, and America.

With the crowds huddled around all the windows, we cheered and waved, danced and sang as the torch and all its fanfare went by!  What a thrill.  It was the chance of a lifetime and I hope the children will remember it always. I think I was celebrating a house full of friends and how much we enjoy our flat as much as the Olympics in London.

Earlier in the week I took the kids and some friends to an exhibit where they got to hold actual London 2012 Olympic torch. For Big Sister and one of her friends it was their second time to hold one. Lucky ducks they all are.

Those lucky little ducks like a party as much as I do. They were super in making these chocolate lolly favors and we're grateful for the free downloads that added to the decor. They are such my people in that 2 of them salvaged Olympic decorations (the paper plate rings and poster board torch) from school to decorate the flat AND that they happily made a favor assembly line.

This morning, like people all across the UK, we rang bells to welcome the Olympics. Big Ben rang 40 times. We rung various bells. Big Brother rang the doorbell. Tonight we're going to be treated to a flyover in Hyde Park. It is true that the city is a bit upended and lots of people have taken to saying, "After the Olympics..."as if we're all on pause for a bit, but that's really fine by me. Actually, who am I kidding? It is exciting and great with me. There is no place I'd rather be than in this spectacular front row seat with my best buddies in this wonderful city.

So, let the games begin!

Addendum: Almost forgot to mention that the hostess wore an eye patch.

In a spectacular bit of bad timing, I got a lousy eye 2 days before the party. Strange injuries and maladies know my name. It keeps me humble. This is the same woman used crutches on the sidelines of the Junior Powderpuff Game and more notably, walked down the aisle in a cast. The show must go on.

Of the many, many things to admire about Marie Colvin, is how she made an eye patch (Called an eye shade if you're shopping in a London pharmacy, should you need to know) look amazing. Not to mention that she did so while reporting from war zones. Mine had a few kids miffed that they didn't know it was a "fancy dress" (also known as dress up or costume to Americans) party!  They were all good sports and Baby Sister ended the day by saying softly, "It is okay for you to read me 'Miss Mary Mack' with your patch on your eye" and Big Sister said, "You still look pretty." Love is blind, friends. I could clearly see all the festivities and for that I'm grateful.

Back to The Games.

One is Silver and the Other Gold

I'm throwing a Thanksgiving Coffee.  Can you come? My mother used to (still does) have coffees for friends and neighbor ladies.  I think many of them were around holidays like Valentine's and maybe even St. Patrick's Day.  Maybe that's why I love a theme and always volunteer to host playgroups and throw parties around something special.  It makes the decorating, tablescape, food, and favors so much more fun.

In La Grange, I had a Thanksgiving coffee to tell my new friends there just how grateful I was for them.  I remember a tearful exchange with my "mentor mom" who'd been assigned to us when we arrived at school. I could always count on her (also mother of 4).  She taught me how to dress the children for school when they would play outside in 10 degrees F and was my personal shopper when I was housebound solo with an infant and 3 children with H1N1.  Friends deserve a bounty of pumpkin muffins, ham biscuits, and an endless vat of coffee.  How often to you have a chance to treat a houseful of your girlfriends, count your blessings, and form new friendships along the way?

Some of my friendships here are still in their infancy. The coffee is a selfish exercise on my part to get to know the invitees better.  Remember going home with friends in college?  Seeing their hometown, bedroom, family and friends was a quick shortcut to understanding them.  Thus the coffee.  We also threw ourselves a cocktail party in La Grange for the same reason.  And who isn't up for a few more friends?

For the wanderers out there - you may relate:  I always feel like finding new girlfriends where you've landed is much akin to dating.  If that is so, I'm already London's biggest floozy -  smiling and waving and inviting most everyone I can.  Much like overtipping, I figure the worst that can happen is that I will continue the stereotype of Americans being outgoing and generous.  Guilty.  Anyway, the boys found it very funny that I've invited some whose names I don't even know ("Waffle Mom" (we made waffles together at the Pumpkin Festival at school and I swear knew her name last term...), "Twins' Mom" and "New Spanish Mom - Big Brother's class") were actual names on my invitation list.  Rest assured that was not how I addressed their envelopes.  They were blank.  And my ribbon topped invitations are new to my new friends here - hooray!

I'm already excited about the morning and some of the moms said it gave them reason to research Thanksgiving.  (Maybe they can do the Thanksgiving lesson in Big Sister's Reception class!) It will be lovely to have everyone here as we are usually immersed in Parent Committee Meetings* and managing not to get plowed down by double decker buses while getting small people, rucksacks, and PE kits (see what fun British terms you are learning just by logging on?!) to their appointed places on time.

Today I remembered how grown up I felt at my parties in La Grange serving coffee and cider from two 40-cup West Bend percolators!  That they were on an actual sideboard nearly put me over the top. I'm simple.  I didn't envision needing the percolators here (neither the antique trunk that was our toy box - sniff!), so they sit in storage in IL undoubtedly not missing me as much as I miss them.  Meanwhile I noodle through their UK equivalent (an exercise for which you must free your mind of US terms and start to think like a Brit.  If you have to know, it is "coffee urn" and of course, don't look for cup capacity as it will be in litres instead.  Oh the time I'm saving you for future research!)

Some things, like driving a station wagon, keeping crayons in my purse, and owning not just one but two party-sized percolators make me feel even a tiny bit older than my average daily sensibility of approximately 8 years old.  I don't think, tho that anyone outgrows the nervous anticipation around a party.  I hope everyone comes, that the flat is filled with laughter and cheer, and mostly, that I don't throw a Mary Tyler Moore party!

*Those committee meetings deserve a whole 'nother blog entry or maybe better yet, an SNL skit.  They are a bit like a UN gathering.  Especially those with Ahmadinejad at the podium.  Maybe if we had those cool translation headsets ours might be slightly less contentious.  At a recent meeting I suggested (Catholic school and all where the children pray every few minutes or so) that we open with a prayer. Peace reigned.  Until the subject of the disco ball-less disco came up...

Anyway, can you come to the coffee?  It would justify my owning a UK percolator or two.  I mean coffee urns.