Ah, the joy of perspective. Upon reflection, I realize the problem was all about expectations. I expected the usual passel of people, and when I didn't get the usual passel of people, I was disappointed. Had I not been expecting said passel, I would have just kicked back and relaxed and had fun with the four folks who were there. (I also wouldn't have made so much sangria -- and Mary, you could have just told me you didn't like it, and I would have gotten over making two pitchers' worth, which, by the way, is only about two gallons -- and bought less food.) It's like going to see a movie you've heard so much about (or believed the David manning blurbs about), or, worse, buying into the whole "it's New Year's Eve [Valentine's Day, my birthday, etc.], and therefore I must have a fabulous time on this day of all days, because it's the law, and if I don't, I'm impossibly sad and lame." Well, that's bullshit. Why believe that you must have fun and/or transcendent moments on the same schedule as the rest of the world? That's tremendously limiting, and makes it all the more likely that you'll miss moments when you're not expecting them.

I need to follow Jude's lead and become more Buddhist in my outlook toward these things.

So again, I apologize to Mary, Andy, Wendy and Tripp for letting my expectations blind me to the fun of the situation in and of itself. You all are tremendously cool for not telling me that my head was so far up my ass I was, in fact, looking at the world through my belly button.