Vol. 5: Had a nice party

My family never misses an opportunity to get together and celebrate.

And at the end of every gathering, we all shout to one another “had a nice party” from the driveway or the vehicles driving away.

My mom is the oldest of three girls, and I am the oldest of eight grandchildren. When I think about my cousins and growing up together, it feels like a series of events – Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving – like snapshots on a corkboard.

I don’t remember when we started saying “had a nice party” to one another. It’s always been a thing. And I love it.

When I was old enough to notice the tradition, I thought it was just about saying the party was nice. Then it became more. It wasn’t just reserved for the “fancier” occasions or holidays. We would say it after casual dinners too.

It dawned on me…

“Had a nice party” isn’t really about the party at all. It’s about the joys of being together and the acknowledgment of the moment we just lived. So easily we could say “had a nice time,” but somehow calling something a “nice time” takes the magic out of it. A “nice time” is like a comma where “nice party” is like a period – a solid declaration.

“Had a nice party” dog-ears the occasion in the book of our life.

Every time we shouted as a chorus to end the night, it became the hope that sustained us until we got together again. It was a lasting memory. It was an excitement to which to look forward.

When we say “had a nice party,” we are in the moment. We aren’t worried about our to-do list or deadlines or the laundry we must do. We are present and enjoying our lives.

The Mackreth invites guests to make those moments, memories and experiences happen. Don’t wait until the perfect occasion. Celebrate the ordinary. Celebrate the monumental. Celebrate your life.