The Definition of A Party

Being somewhat superstitious, it was becoming a matter of magnitude to undergo a proper name-changing ceremony for Ryen's Quest. To make a long story short, the new boat owners are to keep the Sea God Neptune happy by pouring copious amounts of champagne over the bow of the boat while chanting an appeal to keep the boat and those aboard safe. To this end, I casually told a friend or two of our intention and asked them to join us for the event, which was to take place last night.

Surprisingly, people began to arrive. Brad and Louise were first, probably because of Brad’s humbug attitude towards little children seeking out free candy on Halloween. Next, young Shelley arrived unannounced, but always and forever welcome. Our British neighbours on the jetty beside us, Jilly and Roddy knocked on the hull next. And finally, Jim and Allison showed up, but not without first making sure that the little children in their neighbourhood got their loot.

I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I was prepared for everyone. Having made a call to the Superstore on Friday, I had enough sandwiches, cheese, dips, pickles, and frosted cupcakes to satisfy the appetites of the local high school football team. Allan was entrusted with the liquid refreshments. He exceeded everyone’s expectation!

The weather for the evening was windy. Not cold. Just real windy. Someone mentioned 30 knots. When the whole ceremony thing was explained to those who showed up by their own volition, there was an awkward silence. Indeed, we were all to go up on deck, while the Skipper made his appeal, and I poured the copious amounts of too expensive champagne over the bow of the boat and into the grimy waters of the marina. In the wind. I might have heard Louise sobbing quietly as the bottle was up-ended because she does like her sparkly. However, in retrospect, I believe it was Brad I heard trying to suck the champagne out of mid air as it and the wind blew over the bow of the boat. It was dark, so it could have been either, or quite possibly both.

With the ceremony complete, everyone returned below and continued where they left off, which was drinking. The sandwiches weren’t such a big hit. Hardly noticed really. Quite disappointing for the person who made that phone call to the Superstore.

Even with the time falling back an hour; our guests were dropping like flies. Everyone except….you guessed it….Brad and Louise. The responsible, and children friendly, Jim and Allison were the first to leave. Morning comes early for those who still work for a living, even if it’s a Sunday morning and you might or might not be a church-going citizen. Roddy insisted he and Jilly leave before their adult son realized they were gone. Shelley sneaked away to the back cabin, but we later found her on the settee hidden under a blanket. Shelley snores. The quarter cabin was offered to the Bradbury’s at approximately 2 am after the time fell back. It sounded like an attractive offer until Brad saw what was on top of the bunk. There was stowed everything from diesel conditioner, to q-tips. Realizing that this stuff needed to be moved by someone before assuming a horizontal position on said bunk, Brad graciously declined the offer, and patiently nudged his beautiful bride who slept still chanting to the sea god Neptune in her dreams. It was at this point that the only sober person on the boat intervened. The recent weds were lead to and stuffed into the car and delivered safely to their door with the love akin to a duck and her ducklings.

This morning, all was well. Jim was on the job for 8 am while Allison was planning her teaching schedule for the week. Jilly and Roddy were back on their boat, work as usual. Shelley was on the job again, hanging out with Cohen. Brad was feeling seedy, as Louise caught up on missed episodes of Coronation Street.

All was as it should be.

Inventory check: 30 pints of beer gone, four bottles of sparkly Yellow Tail gone, one bottle of Bailey’s gone, forty ounces of Captain Morgan Black rum gone, three bottles of Gold Label Moet champagne gone. Sandwiches, cheese, dips, pickles, frosted cupcakes, and utensils are gone as well.

Definition of a party? A group of people who have gathered to participate in an activity especially for pleasure or amusement.

We definitely had a party!!