Party Styles

I attended three separate parties last night, per se.

Number one party: at the Marine House. It was a welcome party for a new Marine, nice young man. I was able to chat with some of the people from the Embassy that I hadn't had the opportunity to really get to know yet. I stuck to Diet Coke as I was supposed to take over babysitting duties from Nicole after an hour or so. She had been designated as the babysitter for yet another night while Lisette attended a Senior/Freshman soiree. After just over an hour John and I zipped home to swap out for Nicole so she could hang with the Embassy crowd for a break. We walked into more than we bargained for. Nicole and her new boyfriend had broken up and she was broken-hearted. A party was just what she needed, so John headed back to the Marine House with her.

Number two party: at my house! Myself, two fourth graders, two second graders and a kindergartener. First we played Junior Scrabble (I lost but the game was three quarters over when I joined it - really!) then we started watching Star Wars but that quickly degraded to an all out light-saber battle between the three youngest vs. Buddy and I. Buddy and I lost that one too. The other two moms appeared and I let the kids loose while we opened a bottle of white wine. The other two dads appeared and we shooed them back to the Marine House 'cause we were having too much fun! About an hour later, they reappeared and I had to say my farewells. I did get an update that Nicole was enjoying a good game of pool. Whew!

Number three party: at a house a few blocks away. John called Lisette when returning to our house. Some boy answers, tells him he has the wrong number and hangs up. John tries again, no answer now. Tracks down the girl Lisette went to the party with, finds out the party ended over an hour prior. By now, I'm informed of this and am having a minor heart attack. Lisette ends up calling the house, she had gone to a second party just a few blocks from our house and is seriously concerned about the well-being of a very intoxicated young lady she's caring for at this party. After some confusion with the address, John and I arrive to find a house in chaos. I tend to a semi-shocky 14 yr. old girl while John scares the rest of the hooligans away. We're left with a group of sober, exhausted high schoolers who had been trying to gain control over a party that had gone out of control. Oh, and some adults who had stayed in the kitchen when all hell had broken loose. We get in touch with the girl's parents who show up to find their baby in a sad state. She's already vomited a few times and has improved in that she can walk somewhat and talk a little more coherently. Lisette is in near hysterics from exhaustion and fear...both from us and her fellow students come Monday and she has to face the reaction of her decision to call us in.

Lisette is in trouble for going to the second party without permission but we're certainly glad she felt she could call us when there was too much for her to handle.

I slept until noon, go figure.