Whodunit?

It's been a really, really long time since we hosted a murder mystery party. There were a lot of reasons for discontinuing them. One was that we were excluded from the group(s) we had initiated, and social rejection is hard to get over. Another was the fact that our social circle mostly consisted of straight-laced members of the church who couldn't handle the risque nature of the game. But the main reason was kids: ours and theirs. But now that the kids are older, now that our lives are not in chaos, and now that our social circle has expanded to include more open-minded friends, it was high time to open our doors.

Rex as Manny Baritone

This 70's theme game had been sitting in our closet for 10 years gathering dust. It was nice to finally put it to use. I first intended to have it as a combined birthday party for me and Rex, but Christmas and illness always get in the way, so I rescheduled it for the end of January. I am always afraid of no-shows, and this game cannot be played if anyone is absent. Fortunately, the people who had to cancel did so with enough time to find replacements.

Julie as Polly Stuffincup (can't tell, but I did stuff my cup)

Everyone dressed their part. Houston was a riot, getting into character with his Bronx swagger and New York accent. Rex said he even outdid him in hamming things up. He truly did. Everyone played their characters well and had a great time. It was a perfect blend of individuals, and I was extremely happy to get to spend time with my swing dancing friends that I hadn't seen in a very long time. Not only that, but it was awesome to be with them in a more interactive atmosphere than a club where the music is too loud for conversation and everyone is there to dance instead of getting to know each other. I always felt left out when the group would have parties or meetups where they all got to play outside of just dancing, and I couldn't go because I had a family at home.

Michael as Knight Fevah

I have been convinced that people don't really care for my company and would rather do something else if given a choice between spending time with me and going to some other event. So it was an incredibly flattering experience to find that the people who came were actually excited to be there. In fact, the girl I knew the least had been looking forward to it the most.  I may not be popular, but at least a few people think I am cool enough to occupy their Saturday night.

Houston as Vinny V. Divinchi and Gigi as Angina Palpatori

What I saw in the way everyone interacted and, especially in the way they lingered at the end, even when the conversation became awkward, was that these people desperately wanted social interaction as much as I did, or more so. The party was obviously over, and while everyone had gathered their things and were standing at the threshold, it was evident they didn't want to leave. It was the strangest feeling -- realizing that people liked me. I know they felt welcomed and wanted by the whole group, but it was an honor to be the one who created the platform. For once, I didn't feel like I was on the fringe, wishing to be included. For once, I felt like I was part of the group.

Justin as Brady Bunsch and Emily as Chaka Moon

I suppose that I have the advantage in that I am married and actually belong to someone, as opposed to most of our guests who were single and lacked constant companionship. While I know that my 30-to-40-year-old friends keep themselves busy and attend lots of social events for which I envy them, I realized that they crave friendship at least as much as me. And like I said in a previous post, other people are just as insecure as me. This shouldn't surprise me, but it does. For some reason, I see other people's conversation and social busyness as proof that they are confident and well-liked. Lately, their body language, the things they say, and the tone in which they speak and act all scream something else. How did I miss it all these years? Have I been blinded by my own insecurities that I couldn't see theirs?

The gentlemen

The party was a lot of fun. But even more than the laughs and the social satisfaction I experienced, I enjoyed understanding them better. Even if nothing personal was shared, even if conversation sometimes took an uncomfortable turn, I felt much more connected to these people than they could know. Not only are we all looking forward to doing another one of these, but I am hoping to spend more time with these girls.  And, with any luck, Rex will be able to hang out with these guys.

The ladies (we don't have a picture of just Avery, who played Belle Badham)