PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!

I am working in an office in downtown Hamilton, right across from Gore Park.  The atmosphere is more of a boisterous get-together rather than professional.  As we’re all talking and joking, one of the women says that she’s supposed to leave now to go to her new second job.  We all wish her well as she bounces out,  and a few minutes later we see her across the street on the other side of the park.  She has a cart filled with cans of paint, brushes, rollers, and other items needed to do painting jobs. 

I now notice she’s standing in front of three identical rounded doors.  They’re all painted black.  Before she starts painting them,  I join her, and we select a lovely vibrant red colour.  I pick up a brush too and together  we begin to paint “the town red”!  We are then joined by another member of the office team, a young man, who keeps us entertained as he practices his sales pitch on us – a very dramatic and Shakespearean performance indeed!

Time to go home - which is the last apartment I lived in – and I’m surprised to see the wooden stairs leading up to the kitchen filled with people, filker friends!  I recognize Howard, Sally, Jane, Wayne and Heather, among others.  Surprised and a bit disturbed at this unexpected onslaught, I quickly try and think of what’s in my fridge and freezer, and how I can possibly feed them all.  No one seems to be too concerned, telling me they all brought plenty for everyone.  I notice that they also brought all their instruments and soon the living room is filled with drums, guitars, flutes, lap harps, music stands and bodies.  Singing starts as I go into the kitchen and begin to prepare sandwiches. 

Suddenly tired, I actually leave all this and take a short nap – which turns out to be longer than expected.  Howard wakes me up and I express shock and dismay to see even more people arriving.  I’m also shocked that I had slept for so long!  He assures me that all is well, I don’t need to worry about feeding everyone because now they’ve ordered in.  As I walk among all the people, in a much enlarged living room that now spills out onto a huge patio, I sustain a new shock.  Below me, on yet another patio that’s attached to the house, is another party going on.  Here I recognize Helene, Annie and Suzanne, who are celebrating some Jewish observance with a joyous dinner.  I go to greet and hug them, expressing my delight at seeing them all again. 

Is it any surprise that now  a group of Scadians appear, adding to an ever increasing blur of people, tables, food, laughter and song?  Though it all, I get a glimpse that dark-haired girl still wielding her paint brush, as she puts the last finishing touches on the three doors that stand now, bright and bold red against the darkening of the evening.

I laugh and throwing all cares to the wind, I walk around, finding all my friends of the past to reconnect with and enjoy the Party of all Parties!