Year: 37, Day: 1

Ever have one of those laughs, like REALLY long laughs?  The kind where everyone in the room is laughing, doubled over and holding their sides because it was THAT funny?  Then everyone calms down, gets in a few deep breaths, then erupts into laughter again?

We had one of those last night, and before you ask ... wine, beer and tobacco were the only substances in play. It was my 36th birthday party and I get more excited every year about the prospect of not really doing anything but hanging out with good friends, good food and good drinks.  Rebecca did a pretty fantastic job of getting many of best friends and compadres together for just that.  The weather was beautiful, perfect for grilling and some backyard games.  The food was excellently prepared ... and it is the preparation that deserves the praise, not my flipping it over a few times on a hot grill.  The drinks were plentiful, and the company was (as usual) what really brought the whole thing together.

A quick side riff on people making the difference ...

"Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds." - Colin Powell

I'm a little biased, but I really do think very highly of the people I choose to spend time with (and who graciously choose to spend their time with me).  And while the laugh we had was great, the "deed" that accomplished it was anything but.

One of our party goers (and particularly, one of the more sober ones) ventured out onto the patio to take a phone call.  They claim that the screen door was wide open when they walked out.  At some point during their 10-15 minute conversation, "someone" must have closed the screen door.  (Note: I'm laughing again already as I try to type this.)

When the phone conversation ended, they made their way back towards a room full of people who were just generally conversing and in plain sight of the patio entrance.  WHAM!  Bumble, bumble, stumble ... then raucous, boisterous, belly laughs ... like a room full of Santa Clauses all erupted at the same time.  Yep, our first attempted screen door pass through of Spring 2010.

Our party guest was walking in rather than walking out, but this video should help if you've never seen this phenomenon before.  The real fun starts at the 30 second mark, but they're nice enough to replay it a few times.



Our guest had a similar reaction.  The immediate expression of "WTF!?" ... "Hey, that wasn't here before." ... "Oh man, I just ran into a screen door." ... "Is there any other way off this patio other than going back inside?" ... all wrapped up into one face, one moment, it was priceless.  They were a great sport and very self-effacing, and it was HILARIOUS.  Our youngest party goer wasn't even 2 years old yet and even he thought it was a hoot.

It was certainly a highlight of the night and a story I'll be enjoying for many birthdays to come.  "Luke Screenwalker" was also kind enough to offer to not only pay for repairing the screen and bending the frame, but to actually come back and do the work themselves.  I told them not to worry about it and as far as party casualties go getting a new screen door isn't that bad, but they insisted on making things right.

It was a classy gesture and all I can say at this point is c'mon over ... the door's open. ;)