Average Jane, Weather Goddess

I woke up on Saturday morning and immediately checked the weather forecast:  60% chance of rain, thunderstorms likely from 4:00 p.m. on.

"It’s not going to rain on my party," I thought.  I may have even said it aloud.

The morning was sunny and beautiful as I ate breakfast and started gathering food and drink for the party.  It began to get more overcast as I weeded flower beds and cut down volunteer trees.

My husband was extremely wary of my plan to continue as though it wouldn’t rain.  I agreed to take things slowly.  We only set up one table at first, and just two speakers and my least valuable amp to play MP3s.

Four o’clock rolled around and we were still trying to get the grill started, copying music onto the iPod, tidying up, etc.  Half past four…quarter to five…nobody came.  I sent an e-mail to everyone who had RSVPed that said, "The party’s on!  It’s not raining, we have all the food and we’re moving forward."

Finally, the first guest arrived a little before five.  After that, people started rolling in and the party was in full swing by six.  We had musicians grouped on the deck, people with children on blankets in the yard, and islands here and there of couples who couldn’t be immediately convinced to mingle.

Some of the first wave left between seven and eight, and the second wave arrived just after nine.  We actually ran out of beer and I had to make a run up the street to buy another case.

Many of the nine o’clock crowd were just party-hopping and left after an hour or so.  Right around ten-thirty, I heard thunder.  The remaining guests helped us move all of the chairs, PA gear, food and drinks inside, and the party split between our studio and living room.

I stayed in the living room chatting with the last three guests until they left at two a.m.  The final guest (who was also the first to arrive) didn’t leave until three-thirty a.m., but I left my husband to deal with him and went to bed a good hour before that.

All in all, we had more than thirty guests.  There were enough leftover chips and cookies that I’m not quite sure where to put them all.  Everyone seemed to have a great time, I got a new business lead for my company, and my husband got to show off his studio, which always makes him happy.

And now that I know I can will it not to rain on my parties, I’m determined to throw outdoor events more often!