On the day of the Buzzy Christmas Party, I always think of him and how much he enjoyed a party and entertaining. When I say this, I am not just talking about the nightly “Store parties” he hosted where his motto was “Every night is Saturday night and every Saturday night is New Year’s Eve.”
As I was growing up and our family was living behind the Store, I recall my Mom and Dad having folks over quite often to play cards, celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions or whatever other excuse they could come up with for a party.
I never thought much about it because it seemed like a weekly thing. It was just something that they did. Of course Mom did most of the prep work to get ready for the party, while Buzzy took care of supplying the booze for it. But they were a good team acting as host and hostess.*
Later when we moved to Curley Road in the house they had built on Calvert Creek, they continued to host parties and have people over. The basement was designed and decorated for partying. There was a fireplace, a bar in the corner, a real deal card table with a low hanging light installed above it, a huge couch and chairs around a T-V. (No big screens back then but it was bigger than any T-V we had ever owned up til then.)
Looking back, I have many great memories of us hosting fun parties and events in that basement. Yes, those were the days my friend.
As for football parties Mom and Dad were not big sports fans but they did host a couple of basement parties back in the early 70’s when the Super Bowl first started up. (For you youngsters, remember that the Super Bowl didn’t begin until 1967 and it took a couple years before it became the be-all-to-end-all event that it is today.
All of which brings me back to today when the Buzzy Christmas Party goes down as the Ravens host the Steelers. The game will be on the Buzzy T-V of course and should the Ravens luck out and score a touchdown or two we may do some serious celebrating.
Back in the day when Shea and Brady were hosting Sunday football parties, one of their buddies Eddie made a good observation when he noted “I don’t know or care much about football. But I have noticed that it’s a much better party when the home team does good and wins.” Very good observation Eddie.
And speaking of Eddie as in THE Eddie – it’s on! Ryan texted me this from Maui yesterday:
We’ll have that on tomorrow!
Ok, on that note, how’s about some surf music then on this, the shortest day of the year? Happy Winter Solstice, which is another good reason to party!
*Can you believe I got this from the word police for saying hostess?
