It's Sunday! It being the first of the month, we will have the 13th falling on a Friday. A most excellent excuse for a party, I am firmly convinced.
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In fact, the best party I ever threw was on a Friday, September 13. I can't remember if it was 1985 or 1991. 1985, I think, but I can't call to mind a picture of either of my girls that night, which would certainly settle the issue since my younger one was not quite three on that date in 1985 and there is a lot of difference between a toddler and a fourth grader, and almost as much difference between 7 and 13 for the older.
My oldest and dearest collaborated with me on many a Friday the 13th party. He would make a large pot of chili several days ahead (he's from Texas; his chili is rated lethal by those who've eaten it - the pot had a biohazard label on it). I usually made vegetable samosas (the finest thing ever invented to go with beer, and easy enough to do using wonton skins). We also had fruit and veggie trays, lots of chips with dips and salsa and whatever else we happened fo feel like that we had the ingredients for.
But that particular party combined a congenial group with lots to talk about, a good mix of dance music, lots of good food (I believe this was the party where one friend picked up another and asked if they should get something to eat on the way and was answered that this was one of my parties, what did he really think?), enough to drink including plenty non-alcoholic, and lots and lots of black and white helium balloons.
It also happened to be the birthday of one of the guests - who was late for some reason. Have you ever heard The Birthday Dirge sung by 40 slightly drunk people?
My standard method of throwing a party has always been to feed the guests well and let them talk; my friend agreed with this method. I also shot for everything being ready by 6 PM, telling the guests (invited only - I have never liked having to be polite to people who were there because somebody other than me or my collaborator decided they were welcome) that the party would start at 6:30 and anybody who showed up early would get put to work. There were always a couple of people who showed up early, oddly enough. The half hour between gave me and my friend time for a shower each and a bottle of beer.
My remaining memories of that party are of dancing with several of the guests - not always one at a time (Walk Like an Egyptian was on the tape - we did have fun with that one), eating a lot, talking a lot, laughing a lot, and in general being very happy. Several of the guests, as people were beginning to leave, went through and picked up most of the trash - I don't recall there being any food left over. The next day, my friend, my husband and I sat around the living room for a couple of hours ("Gawd, that was a good party!") before we came down to earth enough to finish the clean-up.
My partner in the production (who was somewhat active in Los Angeles SF fandom at the time) told me that our parties were quietly famous among the fen, and he had heard several people claiming to have been at that specific party that neither one of us would have ever invited to anything.