Clean cup, clean cup. Move down.
I love spring and easter and I don’t kid around when I say I am hosting a tea party. Last Sunday I transformed my living room from a 21st birthday Hawaiin Tiki disaster from the previous night into a wonderland tea party feast with seating for eleven people. Ten guests were confirmed and one was a maybe. I have been planning this event for a long time collecting items and ideas throughout the year. Working all weekend to finally get it together in time had me jumping with glee and sprinkling flower petals as if they were fairy dust to put on the finishing touches.
The Mad Hatter mix-matched style table nearly filled my living room and was packed with tea, gluten free cucumber sandwiches and sweets. At 1 o’clock all it needed now were friends to share it with. Yet at 1:30pm only one guest had arrived besides one who came early to help out and two of my roommates getting ready upstairs. Everyone else flaked because they had either forgot or claimed to have too much work to do.
It’s amazing how fast my spirits dropped when I suddenly became the girl sitting at a giant party table with nothing but imaginary friends to fill it. I tried to not let that ruin the party, but it didn’t help that I was already having a terribly stressful week. This topping on the cake turned me into a depressive sad excuse for a host. The few who joined enjoyed the tea, snacks, decorating sugar cookies, and conversation, but looking back I could have made it more fun and engaging instead of shriveling up in my chair.
It’s times like these that make me lose some hope in humanity. How hard is it to follow simple etiquette? I notified people through facebook with ample time to plan ahead for the day and tried to follow up in person as much as I could. I set a deadline for guests to rsvp to ensure I knew how many places to prepare at the table. Do not say yes to an event you never intend to go. It’s ok to notify the host if plans change and you can’t make it, but it is common courtesy to do so no later than 24hrs ahead. A clear no is better than an empty promised yes. I understand everybody has a lot of work to do, but I did a lot of work to prepare this for them and it would have been great for me to know people weren’t coming. Then I could’ve spent that time on the homework I neglected to do instead.
But what’s really sad is that they have no idea what they missed. Its not every day you get to munch on a cupcake bouquet. People can be strange and I have a hard time figuring them out. One day they’ll learn though. There is one guest I know who would have attended in best form and I like to think somehow did. My dear friend Cissy who unexpectedly passed away last week was a genuine southern belle and all around classy lady. She is one of those people whom if you met you’ll never forget for her wit and beautiful soul. I’m so lucky to have known her and grateful for her friendship.
R.I.P. Cissy love Chinadoll xoxo
