School is finally over (that's left for another blog) and surgery is impending (also another blog) and in between the two, I am planning an 85th birthday party for my dad, on Father's day weekend instead of on his birthday, July 11. I am not trying to "SURPRISE" him to death, but there is a relative flying in from Pennsylvania for a visit, so my one sister and her husband (grrrr) decided they would come down that weekend to visit with my cousin and my dad, so we planned everything for one weekend. We invited many friends of my parents' knowing they would not be able to attend, mostly due to the fact of their age, and the expense of gasoline (which my father reminds me of, everytime he drives 25 min to my house).
So with guests invited, ones who said they would not be able to attend, are now attending, and we are very thankful. However, my sister (the one with the grrrrr husband) has invited my brother's ex wife, and an ex of mine to attend as well. I did tell them about the occasion so they could send their well-wishes, but my sister has hounded both to attend "because they are her family and I want to see them!" I tried to explain this was a party for Dad's 85th but now she has proclaimed it Father's Day, Dad's birthday, my niece and nephew's graduation party as well as the 20th anniversary party of my niece and nephew-in-law. She has not been here to plan; she has no money to help but she is making the rules up as she goes....and then informing this. Because she has invited my brother's ex, he will be conveniently out of town for the occasion and I am sure his present wife with conveniently have to work. It is not fair to my dad.
I should learn this lesson....everytime I try to plan a family get together, my sister puts her nose where it does not belong and it becomes a fiasco. She and her husband are big drinkers. My other brother and his son are beer drinkers. His wife has proclaimed this a non-alcoholic celebration because it is for dad, who does not drink, and worries about his family who drink profusely. My brother said if he could not have beer, he would take his name from the list! Everyone wants to be in charge. Too many chiefs.... not enough indians! I think this will be the last party "I" plan, since it ends up not being what I had in mind; I end up housing most of the people (which means a thorough cleaning of the house because my sister and her daughters are OCD, and go through the house with white gloves) and trying to find room for all to sleep. MIND YOU, I do not mind housing the people. I do mind my brother in law's groping me when he hugs me; I do mind criticism of how something was done; I abhor someone else coming into my home complaining and criticizing my house. My roommate is gracious in allowing everyone to stay here (since it is, in reality, her house) but she does not like my sister and brother in law (we all tolerate them) and she does NOT like to clean.
With that in mind, I have hired my one niece to help me clean Tuesday because I am NOT ALLOWED to mop or vacuum or scrub or lift or push or pull; My brother is coming to steam clean the carpets (we have 2 OLDER cats who forget where the litter box is) and my nephew is coming to steam clean the house to rid it of mold, snails and some other insect that loves the walls.... wasp something or others.
I have until Thursday! Today, I broke down cardboard boxes that have been in the living room since Christmas; removed batteries from Hallmark ornaments and displays so they can be packed away and removed from the living room (Because of the 5 surgeries I have had since Halloween, I have been unable to do this stuff and waiting for my roommate to do it, would take until NEXT Christmas). This weekend she is gone to do volleyball games the entire weekend. I will be cleaning bathrooms, and the kitchen, picking up things which should not be out in public (not underwear, but toolbox, boxes, etc) and trying to get sheets changed (which I also am not allowed to do because of lifting the mattresses). I need a maid.
There is too much too do; too little time; and too much anxiety. I love family get togethers but before they happen, I question my sanity. Always, afterward, I am glad we got together but am thankful there won't be a "next one" until Thanksgiving. Surgery July 2, is looking good. I refuse to lift a finger the rest of the summer, until I need to return to work and unpack ALL the boxes I had to pack up for the summer months. Wahoo.....! Hooray for Family Celebrations!