"I've got to admit it's getting better / It's a little better all the time" - Paul McCartney

So, it's 4:50 am, and I need to be getting to sleep...but today was awesome. And it could have been a disaster, but it wasn't...and that makes me SO happy.

I had a picnic to put on today. Mother Nature, however, had other plans. She provided a tremendous torrential downpour. I freaked out and thought I would need to cancel. But thanks to my family's generosity of letting me use our house for 20 people, it turned out to be a success. People came right at five, and stayed long past 11 pm. I believe the last of my guests left around two thirty. TWO THIRTY! That's incredible. I worried that there was going to be a lull of activity that would send people home, but as these picnics promise: there are so many people meeting others for the first time that there are always stories to share and talents to show off! Catchphrase, Charades, and Mao ruled a lot of the night, and it was just perfect. No drama, no worries...just fun.

People who said they would bring things did, and that made things so much easier. There was so much food and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. And you know, the majority of us (minus my little sister and her best friend! haha) were between 19 and 25 and not once was alcohol or any drugs mentioned (as in: "Hm...anyone have some vodka?"). It makes me really, really happy when we all can remember to have fun without the use of either of those. In a weird way, it gives me hope. That's odd, isn't it? But that's the only way I can describe how I feel. I guess the whole night was refreshing. I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time...and it makes me remember that I really need to keep in touch more. I had forgotten how much fun we used to have together, and tonight was a nice reminder of all the good times.

Anyway, I'm on this "natural high" where I'm just so thrilled that something that could have turned out disasterous didn't (and in fact exceeded my expectations), and maybe that storm was just a blessing in disguise. I've had a few of those, I think, recently...and tonight was when I recognized one almost right away. That's awesome.

Thank you to everyone who came & made the picnic fabulous, and many, many thanks to my family. You all really saved the day.

"Only you could turn a picnic inside and still have it be awesome." - Jim H. (a guest as he was leaving)

-E