Mommy loved to entertain. At anytime, she welcomed the chance to entertain guests. I remember as a real little dude, Mommy always wanted everybody to be comfortable and to have fun . . . whether it was at our family home or the home of someone else to that matter. It never failed, she would always pitch in, surely to give advice along the way.
I wanted her to continue that feeling of responsibility that “hosting” gave her, but it backfired on me a little when I gave her an 87th birthday bash. It was arranged to be at a local smorgasbord type restaurant. The guest would include her Seniors’ Club members along with long time friends from her church and the old neighborhood. The atmosphere at the gathering was upbeat and friendly. A friend and I arranged to play group games and the like, but at a point, I caught Mommy just sitting there by herself, with a look on her face, as to say that she was being lift out of the responsibility of entertaining her guests . . . yes, she was being upstaged. Mommy kind of wanted to be the center of attention when she wanted to be. She sometimes thrived on it. However, I think that it was because the games being conducted by my friend and I took the focus off of the “Birthday Girl.” But I quickly recovered . . . here’s how: a very good friend and colleague of mine, Hugh Burrell, came straight off of the softball field in his softball uniform, just to sing Mommy’s favorite song to her, “You Are So Beautiful To Me.” It was so timely, she had to pause to figure it out. She thought that it was impromptu, but it was actually pre-arranged (but Hugh did have to play a game that day and didn’t have time to change).
Mommy had another chance to play host at her 89th birthday bash at her old home. She had just had her basement remodeled and of course, she had to “show it off.” It was great! It was a semi surprise party. I pulled up and started bringing in food as she continually asked me what I was doing. The guest started to arrive as she continued playing the roll of the surprise birthday girl. The seniors club and church members came, ate, partied and had a ball.
Her 90th birthday party was the first affair I planned for her at her new house. I wasn’t going to try to surprise her . . . I mean, how could I when the tent guys wheeled in the tents, tables and chairs, not to mention the caterer and his stuff to accommodate old friends from the old neighborhood, the church . . . and the Seniors of course! Cousin Nancy charmed the guests with group games and those partners of mine that had met Mommy arrived . . . and everyone just enjoyed themselves and the yard. Mommy bragged on her flowerers and escorted people around the yard and just was delighted to play the “host” again.
She was always at her best when she was “calling the shots.” She had to know what, how and where anything was going on or happening. She had to “know” that everyone was comfortable. Yep, Mommy was quite THE ENTERTAINER.
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