The final countdown is begun. On August 28 we will gather at Deer Tick Manor to celebrate Lee’s life. This pandemic-delayed event is long overdue. Our celebration will be held outside on the grounds, so it is full speed ahead despite the recent surge in Covid cases and despite Deer Tick being located firmly within the borders of a neighboring “red” state.
Though firmly rooted in our minds for more than a year, this celebration has only been in the works in earnest since June. First, we compiled a potential guest list derived from the last known email addresses of all the many folks who visited the website we set up after Lee’s health irretrievably had headed South. Based on the responses, our turnout should be around 80 people. This would be an impressive number given the passage of time since Lee’s death, the weird intervening events we have all had to face, and the fact that Deer Tick is a bit of a haul for most anyone who does not permanently reside in the immediate area, which is most everyone, including myself. I expect friends and family from states as distant and far-flung as Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois to be in attendance. Several Italians also have announced plans to attend.
This past Monday I went to see Dixie at the Al’s grocery deli, confirmed my party order and paid for it. We will enjoy Al’s delicious chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, fruit salad, and cookies, of course. As the number of guests who RSVP’d continued to expand, Dixie and I had been forced to tweak the order in a series of phone calls leading up to my recent visit. I am comfortable we now have the numbers just about right. All food items are scheduled to be delivered to Deer Tick the morning of our event.
Mont, who is a friend and my upstairs neighbor, is charged with the beer and wine. He does not know it yet, but I also plan to ask him either to transport Lola the pup to the event or to arrange for his housemates, John and Madeline, to transport her alongside Lola’s best pal, their dog Gus.
Meanwhile, Paul, who is Lee’s older brother, is acting as point for other important logistical tasks: Renting serving tables, extra chairs, the large lawn tent that will be set up behind the house near the big sugar maple, and two porta potties, including the deluxe flush model with a sink and running water! (This deluxe model will be reserved for the exclusive use of the ladies.) Paul also is responsible for obtaining most accoutrements, though I already possess many required items, such as my mom’s ancient 40-cup percolator.
Additional minor tasks proliferate daily, something likely to continue right up to the event itself. Indeed, even as I wrote the above parenthetical, I simultaneously created a note to myself to remember to prepare appropriate porta potty signage. Fortunately, lots of eager family and friends have offered to pitch in to ensure that our event is a success, so we will not lack for assistants.
Lee’s oldest brother, Dave, arrives at Deer Tick from Florida later this week. When Lee was living, she would graciously let Dave and his wife Elaine take over our house for two prime weeks each summer. Dave and Elaine both have roots in the general area of Deer Tick and, hence, know lots of locals. Also, they are both avid golfers, and Deer Tick abuts a decent public course. It has become almost an annual holiday for them, I guess, and I do not know what they will do for a vacation if I ever get rid of the property. The truth is I basically view Dave being here as just another guest attending Lee’s celebration, albeit a guest with close blood ties to her.
As currently planned, the event is set to start at noon. Food will immediately be made available. Around two we will take time to honor Lee and to reminisce. I expect some folks will depart after the speechifying concludes. I would like to get one good group photo. In fact, I am making another reminder note as I write this sentence.
Then, it is back to the food, beer, and wine. I know numerous musicians and singers –a few very talented ones—who will be in attendance, so I expect one or two lively jams as the day wears on into evening. Lee had a lovely singing voice and she loved to sing when we jammed. She would fit right into the music scene.
Then, as day turns to dusk, and settles into darkness, perhaps a large fire in the brick pit at the rear of our main lot, near the woods. Eventually, our food put up, enough beer and wine having been consumed, the last singer croaking hoarse, while the last note rings and fades, anyone who wants to stay the night can stay so long as I am able to comfortably fit them in overnight. I expect to have takers. I have arranged for additional accommodations to be available, if needed. Accordingly, I am relatively confident that the party celebrating Lee’s life will recommence and continue starting bright and early the next morning. Lee would approve.
However, if you are thinking he has things all together, you would be wrong. The heavy lifting is still ahead for me. I have given long and hard thought to the most important matter of addressing the assembled at Lee’s celebration, which is expected and a necessary duty, and my great privilege.
Typically, I am a confident public speaker and an extemporaneous one. But when it came to the subject of Lee, I could hear my voice quaking and feel my throat tightening although I was merely practicing in my mind what I had to say. So, I made a written outline of my thoughts and mental impressions, cursory reference notes really, but at least something solid, a piece of paper to hold onto physically. Slowly, these notes have evolved into a near-complete written narrative. I think about these words in my mind. I have started to rehearse them aloud. However, I still doubt that I can get through the words easily no matter how much I practice them, no matter how many useful aids or props I have. Yet I am determined that I will not pass the microphone until I have spoken my piece.
* * *
Today I want to give a quick shout-out to Robyn for her support throughout this arduous but vitally important process. To one good and confident lady: Thanks. Happy birthday!