Party of the First Part

You may remember that some time ago we asked for party ideas and suggested one of our own, tongue in cheek: "come as your significant other--not in dress, but rather adopt the personality of your significant other for the evening!!!”

This prompted viewer Todd to respond: “Sounds like a fast track to divorce to me !”

Happily married viewer Beth emailed that for 23 years she and her husband Tony have hosted a party, “ honoring American laureate, hero, great light, Walt Whitman.”
The invitation explains: "Song of Myself" will be read through… starting at 9 PM.
Everyone’s invited to participate.
Bring your own beverages or a dessert.
Testimonials to Walt will be lovingly accepted.

Viewer Esther sent us several ideas:

Everyone comes solo - and everyone else has to try to figure out who is a couple.

Everyone brings an ingredient or two ----- to make dinner.

Everyone brings a new person

Everyone brings the last book they read - to swap/share with others

Everyone brings an unfinished project - and posts it -
Everyone offers to help one other person finish !


Peggy’s party idea revolves around food and friendship: “I got 2 friends, and we each invited 5 of our friends. Then we cooked a fabulous dinner ,since 2 of the 3 of us are foodies. Guests loved it. It had no other theme, besides 3 cooks in the kitchen.”

Another viewer, Penny, describes her ambitious parties for her husband Michael.
“I gave Michael a surprise parade for his 50th . The invite asked what the Fourth of July, Gay and Lesbian Day, the Rose Bowl and Michael's 50th had in common. Inside it said, "A parade, of course." It asked for everyone to decorate their car, pet, themselves or whatever and come celebrate. I hired the local High School marching band to head up the parade.

Another successful party was the roast I had for Michael's 40th. When he walked in, everyone was holding a caricature of his face on a stick. After a delicious meal, friends from all times and segments of our lives roasted him. He loved it.

And finally, speaking of roasts: Rich says there is nothing like roasting a pig to bring people together:

“There is a company here in Boulder that sells whole pigs all set to put out on the grill. They will even rent you the big gas powered grill that comes on its own trailer. We threw wood chips on the fire for flavor. The pig is very easy to carve. You slow cook (smoke) it all day and by the time it is ready, the meat literally falls off the bones. We had the apple in the mouth just for effect. We also cooked vegetables inside the pig for flavor and moistness.”

Now that’s what I call a party animal.