Today I’m expecting Renate, who you know by now as a member of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.  She and her mom moved to Osoyoos when we were in grade 4.  I still remember the whole town being stood on its head by her beautiful mom Irma, who had a figure like Sophia Loren.

I invited someone I’ve known since grade 1, John Patterson, to come over this afternoon for a visit.  He and Renate became friends and so I know he’s looking forward to seeing her for the first time in a couple of decades.

Then on Monday Renate and I will drive to Osoyoos to have lunch with mom and tour around the town as Renate hasn’t been back for over twenty years.  We’re meeting two more members of the Ya Ya’s, Maryjoy and Rhonda, in the afternoon, down at Maryjoy’s old family home.

At 6:00 we’re off to dinner, and will be met by Phyllis.  So it’ll be another large gathering with only Penny and Alison absent.  It’s great to be able to meet up with these incredible women so often.

I’ve been busying myself with on-line dating, which is going well, other than there are no actual dates.  However I’ve e mailed back and forth with some really nice people, one in particular, and still can’t believe I’m doing such a thing.  I used to find the idea of on-line dating unseemly.

But one evening as Louie and I were on the couch, watching Netflix as we like to do, I wondered if this was the picture of the next thirty years.  I love Louie and all, but I thought perhaps there’s something a bit more fun for me to do in this world.

I’d foolishly thought that one might meet a person doing normal things.  But working from home and attending an all-women’s gym and never leaving the house meant I’d have to hope to meet someone nice in line at the Superstore.  As that didn’t work, I had to bite the bullet and advertise myself on line.

German relatives are due in Canada on August 5th, and will stay with Freddie at the Coast for a while before heading to Osoyoos to stay with mom.  I told everyone I’m having the basement bathroom renovated, and can’t handle two adults and two teenaged boys at this time.

The poor plumber came on Friday and after he tore out the filthy shower stall he said it really needed to come out of there.  I can well imagine, given the amount of leakage over the years, and I’m ga ga with excitement about my plans.

A tile setter’s going to come and do the floor and tile up the sides of the walls.  Then the plumber will return and put in a nice new shower head and faucet, and I’ll get a round shower rod installed and put in a shower curtain.  Adorable!

I got a beautiful brocade fabric sofa and chair at the Kelowna Women’s Shelter Thrift store for $110.  They’re in fantastic condition, like new.  I just don’t understand people who want to get rid of something that’s still perfectly good.   I love them for it, though!

Alison arrived on the Wednesday before my big party, and we spent Thursday morning shopping for the dinner ingredients.  We then proceeded to make dinner for 30 people.  It was a lot of fun, and every once in a while we’d say to each other, “This seems too easy.”  We made a turkey, a couple of roasts, and some steelhead trouts.

On Friday we also made some great sauces for the meat, made the salads, and I made my favourite Green Goddess dressing for the tossed salad.  On Saturday morning we loaded my car and transported all of the food to Osoyoos.

When we arrived, mom had the long tables all set up under the ivy, out on her back deck.  There were 15 chairs on each side, and mom had carefully made place cards for the 30 guests.  It took days as she considered each person, and then decided where they’d optimally be seated.

Freddie and Wendy were already there, and we had lunch together in great spirits.  I have to say I was really excited about my party, as it was comprised of people I consider dear friends.  Petra and Larry were there from Kelowna, and lots of people made the trip from the Lower Mainland, including Margaret.  Bev, my old teacher of the deaf pal, came too.

Almost all of the Ya Ya Sisterhood was there, except for Renate, who happens to be arriving next week.  The husbands all commented on how pleasantly surprised they were to be allowed to the party.  They said they’d never been included in our revelries before and felt honoured.

Because it was Osoyoos in mid-July, it was nice and warm sitting outside, and the dinner began with a lovely toast from my dear brother.  We then began passing around the food, and drinking as much as we could.

I’d said to Alison I wanted to serve a cocktail, as I think if people get a stiff drink at the beginning of a party it elevates the whole event.  We went through some recipe books, and finally settled on a vodka punch but decided not to use the word punch and to call it a Mo cocktail.  A special birthday Mo cocktail, anyone?

We kept tasing the punch as it was being made, and eventually I made Alison dump 1.5 of the giant vodka bottles into the vat, which also included orange, pineapple and grapefruit juice as well as club soda.

We’d mix and taste, and I kept saying but I want them drunk after one glass, so it has to be strong.  However, you want it to taste like juice so they down it quickly, thereby adding to the so-called punch.  It was a fine line, but I believe we achieved it.

Jerralynn had made a beautiful three layer cake, whereby each layer was a different flavour and colour.  It was really lovely and delicious, too with marshmallow icing.

The next morning Jerralynn came over and made Bavarian waffles for those of us staying at mom’s and it was a beautiful breakfast after a fantastic event.  For once I wasn’t hungover, so perhaps that’s what happens as one ages; one really does become wiser.

I wondered what might happen when Nicky left, but I remained calm and didn’t make a fool out of myself.  Denis said he’d drive him to the airport, so I invited Denis for a Canada Day barbecue as Nicky was leaving that day.

I’d made a potato and a tossed salad with a delicious homemade green Goddess dressing I love.  Denis barbecued the steaks, and we ate early because Nicky wanted to be at the airport before 6:00 PM.

When it was time to go, we did that funny sideways body hugging thing, and then off he went to find his fame and fortune in Taiwan.  I asked him to let me know once he’d arrived, and he sent me an e mail right away saying he was there, safe and sound.

Now here’s the wonderful thing.  I don’t miss anyone and I enjoy being alone with my precious pets.  I’m also finding out interesting facts about myself.  For example, I now find myself playing greatest hits of the 70’s and 80’s at quite a high volume.  I eat dinner at 4:00.

On Saturday mom’s holding a gala dinner party for 32 people for my 60th birthday so I’m ga ga with excitement.  Alison’s arriving from Toronto on Wednesday at noon, and we’re going to be making the food so will be cooking for three days.  Fun!

It’ll be very manageable as I made dinner for 24 people for Denis’ 50th birthday, so I know the two of us can do it.  Actually Jerralynn’s making the appies and cake, so it’s a team effort.  My sister in law Twig’s making a Thai rice salad.

I think if we make a turkey, ham, roast and a salmon, then make a variety of salads and have buns, and tons of booze, it should be a fabulous event.  Mom won’t allow paper plates so it’ll be very chi chi as we’re going to have a long table nicely set out on the deck with 16 chairs on each side.

And for once I said to mom I just want to invite my own friends, and those people I feel close to for this event, so I’ll be seeing all manner of people from the past.  There’ll be my old teachers of the deaf pals Gitte and Mark, and Beverly’s coming too.

All the women of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, except Renate, will be there with their husbands, so we can re-live Palm Springs all over again.  Margaret’s coming from Vancouver and my Kelowna pals, Kathy and David, Petra and Larry will be there too.

I usually buy myself something for my birthday, but this year I didn’t get around to it, and I think that’s fine.  I have a feeling something wonderful’s about to happen so I don’t need a trinket or bauble.

I know some people are bummed out about birthdays, but I’m fine with each one of them.  And unlike some women who remain coy about their ages, if someone asks, I scream out I’m about to turn 60.

So now it’s time to clean this house like a crazy person not just for Alison, but Margaret’s coming on Sunday for a few days, too, so I want the place to be half decent.