JUST IN CASE

I love hiking with my third son, Sam.  He and I get into some of the most interesting and unusual conversations.  As we hiked up the path from Big Rock this is how our most recent conversation unfolded.

I would give myself a four day party.  I would want to do it as soon as I got the news.  We could find a venue, someplace where we could pitch some tents and have a band because I would want to be able to dance.  

But what if  you aren’t feeling well enough to dance? 

That’s why I would have to plan this quickly.  I would call all of you boys and say this has got to happen and its got to happen soon. We could find some property and pitch one big tent either to keep out of the sun if it was summer or out of the rain if it was winter.  There should be a big house on the property too so we wouldn’t have to leave.  We could all just sleep there for the four days.  

Ok, what else? 

Well, let's see a band and dancing, maybe a game night where we could play all of the games I have always loved, “Charades”, “Rumikube”,  “Hearts”, “Flip Cup”. 

How about the game of “Life”, don’t forget the game of “Life”.  

Of course, and the game of “Life”, now THAT would be appropriate.    We would have to plan food for every day.  Similar to the four days of dinners we had for Jake and Roge’s wedding.  Maybe the first day Jake could smoke some chicken and brisket.  The second day we could do a “Low Country Boil” just for old times sake.  Pop and Drew would be up for that. Then the third day we would have to do pizza in the cobb oven.  Could we transport our cobb oven to the venue?  

Of course we can.  We can do anything we want.  

The fourth day we should just have a huge potluck with as many people as we can possibly invite.  Wouldn’t that be fabulous!  Just like the potlucks at the Fourth of July parties.  You know how I love potlucks!!  We would need a bar to hang around because everyone likes to hang around a bar.  Do you think Jordan would make a couple of his exotic drinks for us?  We should ask.  

If not, we can make some exotic drinks of our own.  

I would really like a fire to sit around every evening.  I would toast and eat as many marshmallows as I wanted - unlimited.  I wouldn’t even count.  Maybe have a s’more or two.  We could get Kirby to play his piano and have a sing-a-long every evening.  Wouldn’t that be an awesome way to end each day.  I would love for the venue to be out in the middle of nowhere so we wouldn’t have to worry about noise and at night we could sit around the fire and look at the stars.  I love sitting around a fire.  

And we could tell “Mom stories”.  We have so many Mom stories that we could share and laugh about.  Wouldn’t you love to hear the stories we remember about you.  That would be fun and definitely keep us laughing.  

Yeah, I would love that.  I think I have forgotten a lot of the Mom stories.  It would be nice to include a little reminiscing.  Oh wait!  How could we forget all of the videos I have edited.  We would need to have them playing on a loop maybe in the big house.  So people could just pass through and watch a little or they could sit for awhile and watch entire pieces.  And I think we should have a photo booth.  

A photo booth? 

Yes, I have always loved photo booths.  

Ok, then a photo booth it is.  

We’ll make a program to include everything that is going on the entire four days so people can just come and go as they please.  Some will stay the entire four days and some will just come for a few hours but that’s ok.  I just want to see everyone for at least a bit of time.  

Every morning could start with a big spread of food - pastries, breads, eggs, hash browns, bacon, lots of bacon.  Do you think people would come? 

The ones important to me would.  

It’ll be sad. 

No, it won’t because we’ll be celebrating my life and we’ll be doing it with me instead of after I’m gone.  

Do you think it will be sad once the party is over?  

Maybe.  But that’s when we can head to the Caribbean to spend my last days.  The whole family.  Even if I wasn’t feeling well, we can go out on the boats and float in those beautiful blue seas with a pina colada in hand, just talking and relaxing and being.  It would be a perfect way to go.  When I’m too sick to do anything you can put me in a chair on the beach and I will watch you all float around.  That would be the most peaceful way to go.  

Well then, I’m glad we have that all planned out, just in case. 

Yes, just in case.