Jam

​We are preparing for a jam.  Jams are so rare these days.  Making music used to be a big part of my life.  We have friends old and new coming.  When I say old the emphasis for all of us is on the old.  Or it probably would be better to say we are all getting long in the tooth.
Activities have been based around the date of the jam.  Things that could have been pre jam we have deferred to post jam.  It is like our lives have revolved around that date.
It has been fine for weeks but a lot of rain is expected.  Just as well it is an indoor thing.  It will be interesting to see how the fire is embraced.  We were given a webber bbq which we have made our fire pit.  We had imagined people next to the fire toasting marsh mellows.  If it is done at all it may be a dash and quick return. The chairs around the fireplace may not be a goer either.  Guests looking like drowned rats is never a good look.
We have trialled a few things to make sure they are working.  Just as well really.  I could get no power to my piano.  Another extension cord from a different power point and all is good again.  I would not have liked to discover that on the night.
Merril is getting recipes together to cook.  My job, which I chose to accept was to cut up the onions.  Goodness knows why I wanted to cry even though I thought I was ok to do it.  Walking into the kitchen when a meal is being prepared is to bravely go where no man has gone before.  Well maybe one has gone.  Perhaps even a few.  Actually probably many.  But it is something I do not do often.
Preparing a meal is like a military operation.  When the ingredients are lined up it is almost like they should say “Present Mam!”  I beat a hasty retreat so that should the time come I would not need to say “Present Mam!”  Unless of course Present meant like a present for me.  Chances are that then my curiosity would have overwhelmed me.  In this case I would make a terrible combatant.  Too easily lured in.  Reminds me of a cartoon I saw today.  Two fish in a bowl.  The cat has put their bowl on a hot plate and feeds them.  One fish says, “first he warms our bowl and then feeds us.  And you thought he wasn’t friendly.”  Personally, I think it was a part of the cat’s clever plan.
The gazebo is up.  The tables are ready.  The games are out.  The Covid safe plan is good to go.  The chairs are in place.  They say it takes as long to do something as you’ve got to do it.  Right now it is the future.  After tomorrow night it will be “remember when.”
Ps  Well the jam has come and gone.  That was the third we have had here and Merril and I felt it was the best so far.  It was great to see everyone including a couple of people we had not seen in eight years or so.
One person got lost and their gps was not working and they forgot their phone.  They arrived just at the end of the first session.  We were hanging out for his arrival as well as being a great person they can make their instrument talk.
Great company.  Great food.  Great night.