Complications

When I was a little girl, I listened to a lot of music. My parents loved music, and we always had music playing. Now, I'm 46, so when I was a kid, the source of music was the stereo--a fancy wooden cabinet that contained a record player and an eight-track tape deck. The speakers to the stereo, housed in similar fancy wooden cases, doubled as end tables in our living room. No kidding.

I especially liked the music of the Statler Brothers. My mother would put on a stack of Statler Brothers LP's and we would be treated to hour after hour of their music. One of my very favorite songs of theirs was called "Class of '57." The Statler Brothers were about the same age as my parents; maybe that's why my folks liked this music so much.

Anyway, I particularly loved one Statler Brothers song called "The Class of '57." I especially remember one line from that song:

The class of '57 had its dreams

But living life day to day is never what it seems

Things get complicated when you get past 18.

I must have heard that song 500 times, all before I myself was 18. Never quite knew what it meant. I know what it means now, though.

This past weekend was an example of how things don't always go according to plan. I had been planning a Halloween party. For weeks I'd been working out the details in my head. This past week I'd been working out the details in my home. I sent invitations, bought food, bought paper goods, finished projects, cleaned house. All in preparation for Saturday night's party. Like these napkins, for instance. I don't know if I've ever told y'all that I have a bit of a napkin fetish. Some girls like shoes; some go for earrings; some drool over handbags. For me, it's napkins. And just look at these:

Did you ever see anything so cute?

After a difficult weekend last week, I was looking forward to the fun celebration. Then on Saturday morning, my husband woke up sick. Sore throat, headache, severe body aches, fever. Yep, you guessed it. The 'flu.

Thank God, I have a close friend who is a healthcare pro. She has a Ph.D. in nursing, for crying out loud. I talked to her, and she told me exactly what to do. An hour later, we were picking up a Tamiflu prescription from the pharmacy. She explained how Tamiflu works and why my husband should take it right away. He took it, and he's much better now, and everything worked out just fine.

But. The party. The party to which I had looked forward and for which I had worked so hard to prepare. The party had to be canceled.

You know what, though? It's just one party. Yes, I was looking forward to it. Yes, I hated to cancel. Yes, I especially hated to tell my guests that their plans for the evening would have to be canceled. But it's okay. There will be other chances to have parties. There will be other times to enjoy with those friends. The napkins will keep until next year. It's just that things don't always go according to plan. Things get complicated when you get past 18, don't they?

Unwrapped with Emily at Chatting at the Sky