Sunday, June 05, 2005
the stand up
this morning my wife and i were stood up. last week we had met some friends in town coincidentally. at the time we were planning to do our thing and return home, however, we were talked into a bottle of champagne and from there a few bottles of red wine and a couple of pizzas. it was a fun, spontanteous evening. at the first encounter that night, we had invited this other couple over to our house, for sunday brunch. they had several times over the past few months expressed a desire to come "check out" our new place etc. so we figured why not have a brunch at our place and hang out. once again at the close of the evening we said, "see you next sunday..." and everything was confirmed.
all week, this morning's planned brunch was playing in the back of my mind. i had declined another invitation for a surf, and had worked my own job list around the day and time. last night, cherry and i went to the market to get those last few things to prepare for the meal (and i went once more this morning to the bakery). this morning, after waking up and lounging around in bed, we got up, did some cleaning and house prep before we began in the kitchen. when ever we host parties or get togethers, we always like to be over prepared with food and drink rather than finding ourselves short at the moment. cherry baked muffins and squeezed some fresh orange juice, and i prepared pototoes and was beginning to get the eggs and omelette fixings cut and ready, when i began to have doubts. the expected guests were already 45 minutes late. cherry asked me "should we put on a pot of coffee?" that was when i thought perhaps we should phone them to find out their e.t.a. so i dialed the number. expected guest #1 answered. "good morning," i said "when do you think you will be here, we are nearly ready." the response was something like "oh shit," but not even that rewarding for me. basically, it had slipped both their minds. instead of being at our place as planned, they were out walking the dog with other plans organized for later in the day. i was upset, but rather than carry on about it and listen to apologies and pathetic excuses i said, "well i am hungry and going to finish cooking so we can eat. call me later and we can work something out." i hung up. i cooked up eggs, and our meal and food for four, was now eaten by two. there are plenty of left overs, that will not go to waste. yes, i was a little disappointed, but not as pissed off as my wife.
after breakfast, we went to the fish shop to inquire about out sick goldfish (we recently got an aquarium). when we returned there was a bottle of wine on the doorstep- a step in the right direction, and a groveling message from expected guest #2 on the answering machine. it was at least a nice thought, but i would have preferred to have a morning full of food and fun with friends. instead, it was a morning of too much food and fun with my wife, and a hollow feeling in the gut from being stood up. it may be another year before they get invited over again.
all week, this morning's planned brunch was playing in the back of my mind. i had declined another invitation for a surf, and had worked my own job list around the day and time. last night, cherry and i went to the market to get those last few things to prepare for the meal (and i went once more this morning to the bakery). this morning, after waking up and lounging around in bed, we got up, did some cleaning and house prep before we began in the kitchen. when ever we host parties or get togethers, we always like to be over prepared with food and drink rather than finding ourselves short at the moment. cherry baked muffins and squeezed some fresh orange juice, and i prepared pototoes and was beginning to get the eggs and omelette fixings cut and ready, when i began to have doubts. the expected guests were already 45 minutes late. cherry asked me "should we put on a pot of coffee?" that was when i thought perhaps we should phone them to find out their e.t.a. so i dialed the number. expected guest #1 answered. "good morning," i said "when do you think you will be here, we are nearly ready." the response was something like "oh shit," but not even that rewarding for me. basically, it had slipped both their minds. instead of being at our place as planned, they were out walking the dog with other plans organized for later in the day. i was upset, but rather than carry on about it and listen to apologies and pathetic excuses i said, "well i am hungry and going to finish cooking so we can eat. call me later and we can work something out." i hung up. i cooked up eggs, and our meal and food for four, was now eaten by two. there are plenty of left overs, that will not go to waste. yes, i was a little disappointed, but not as pissed off as my wife.
after breakfast, we went to the fish shop to inquire about out sick goldfish (we recently got an aquarium). when we returned there was a bottle of wine on the doorstep- a step in the right direction, and a groveling message from expected guest #2 on the answering machine. it was at least a nice thought, but i would have preferred to have a morning full of food and fun with friends. instead, it was a morning of too much food and fun with my wife, and a hollow feeling in the gut from being stood up. it may be another year before they get invited over again.
