MY ACCOUNT

July 10

Hi mum,
 

I’m still really up and down about this whole social potluck event, but it has been a really fun week, planning all this with Nora and Jenna. Things feel lively around here, and it feels a bit like the fun life you and I had on the road. That feeling of something exciting coming up mixed with the anticipatory tension of the unknown.

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Huh. I didn’t realize it til now, but that’s essentially the feeling one has on the eve of an adventure, isn’t it? I guess I do miss adventure, and that thrill of anticipation.

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Well, in any case, I suppose I have an adventure on the way now! Nora’s already sent out the invitations. Yup. In less than a week she’d designed and printed the cards, drew up a guest list with Jenna, and hand-delivered the invites around town. Nora probably knew that if she didn’t get right to that part, I would have found a way to back out of it. Now people know, and I have no option but to move forward. She’s a sly one, that daughter of mine.

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Some people have already responded with their attendance, though Jenna and Nora aren’t telling me how many; they rightly suspect that I’ll get more anxious knowing how many people to expect. But they did share with me the menu categories, and some of the dishes that people have signed up to bring, and I think it’ll be a feast to remember.

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Nora let slip the other day that the feature cocktail will be a margarita, then clapped her hands over her mouth when Jenna screeched, “Nora! You weren’t supposed to tell her yet!”

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Nora giggled behind her hands, and Jenna explained, “We thought it would be the best choice for the feature because it traditionally has a salt rim.” She gave Nora an exaggerated side-eyed glare and continued: “We don’t have the specifics yet, because we really want this to stand out, but when we’re ready for you to begin formulating, ahem ahem, we’ll let you know more.”

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They did also tell me that they were concentrating on flavors that would work well with our seafood focus. Because of the Salt theme, and our town’s access to incredible seafood this time of year, we decided that revolving the potluck around fresh seafood just made sense.

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We’re going to have tables for the food set up indoors, and have the eating and mingling space out back. I was thinking of rustic and simple picnic tables and maybe a tent for shade, but I have a feeling that Jenna and Nora may end up making it a bit more extravagant. I’ve heard talks of a dance floor and tiki torches when I’ve walked in on their planning sessions, and they quickly change the discussion to the menu, likely thinking that would distract me. But I really hope their plans for this to be a dance party is not one of their surprises for me.

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Jenna’s been so great about taking this all on, though. And Nora’s really enjoying the planning process with Jenna. It’s such a change to hear the house filled with chatter and laughter and excited squeals.

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I admit, I haven’t been very focused on the recipe book, which is obviously a bit problematic, as the potluck’s essence is about the book. I’ve been enjoying just being in the kitchen when Jenna and Nora are planning. I haven’t been doing new recipe work, because that would require focus, but I have been making a lot more cheese buns and jalapeno pickle for late-night brain food, and cooking dinner for the four of us every day.

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Jerry’s been coming over after work every day now to be part of the planning committee, too. Initially it was just because he was excited about helping the girls with the dessert cocktail, but now he’s helping them design whatever it is they’re planning for the backyard, and being sent on decor errand runs whenever Jenna and Nora demand.

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The first couple evenings that Jerry was here, he tried to pull Jenna away at dinner time, teasing her that he can respect boundaries enough for the both of them, even though I insisted they stay. But when Nora asked them to stay so they could keep planning, Jerry couldn’t say no. He literally couldn’t get the word out. He just couldn’t refuse when she asked him. It was really sweet. (And yes, Jenna teased him mercilessly for being such a softie.)

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So for the past week after I finish work, I come home and plan dinner with Nora, then Jenna finishes work and she and Nora start their potluck planning session while I start prepping snacks or cooking dinner, then Jerry comes over when he’s done work, joins the girls to catch up on what he’s missed in the planning, we all have dinner, and then Jerry updates Jenna and Nora on what he’s come up with for design or the cocktail while they all help me clean up the kitchen.

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It feels a little like I’ve stepped into a holiday tv-commercial type of family. Before, it was only ever me and one other person in my family, and now suddenly it’s like I’ve got two more. It feels both strange and oddly natural.

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And to think, it all started with a missing tray of shortbread.

 

I’ll write again soon!

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Love,

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Beatrix

 

 

P.S. I know I need to get back to the recipes again. Oh! Maybe there’s a cool cocktail idea in the boxes.