Yesterday, as I was picking up AJ and Adam from preschool (Yes, I wasted no time. No matter that there are only six weeks left to the year. They need it and so do I!) one of the moms caught up to me and said, and I paraphrase, "I hear you're new here. I'm hosting a play date tomorrow at my house. We just had baby chicks hatch in the backyard. I think your boys might like to see them. Why don't you come over, if you don't have plans?"
I almost hugged her!
Hey, I'm past the point of trying to be cool. My response?
"Plans? We don't have any plans! We don't know a soul here! We'd LOVE to come over!"
(She forgave my eagerness... and quickly got a pencil so she could jot down my email address).
So today, we packed a picnic lunch and made our way out to her farm to see the baby chicks. I found the place without a problem, and we passed a huge tractor plowing a field on the way. AJ said, "Look, mom! That tractor's moving!" It was pretty cool.
The baby chicks were adorable, all 27 of them. There were also four or five chickens, who each lay 2 eggs a day. (I learned a lot). They also had a huge pet bunny, Hoppy. Hoppy was 8 lbs and will double her weight, I was told. "Is she a special breed?" I ask. "Flemish Giant," was the answer. Who knew?
The animals, and also the construction toys - including the battery powered kiddie John Deere - were a huge hit with the boys. The bouncy castle was the cake topper. Then, blankets were spread over the lawn and fresh grapes and cheese and crackers made their rounds, as everyone brought out their picnic lunch.
This was a play date? Like none I'd ever hosted! My guests were lucky if I served snacks. Gosh now that I think of it, I must've been a pretty lame hostess. Well, here I'll up the bar for myself. I can't offer chickens, but they can come over and feed the ponies beyond the fence? I think I can muster up a few grapes. Maybe stop at Trader Joe's and heat up some frozen apps? I can do this, right?
Beyond all the hospitality and entertainment, though, I was most impressed with the women I met today. Before moving here we were told that we won't meet better people than in the mid-West. I have to say, I've never been so comfortable as a newcomer in a social situation than today. Not only were the women friendly, but they were interesting and welcoming and refreshingly open. And they were communicative and genuinely interested in my story. One woman had in-laws in New England, another had a parent living in Russia. It was nice to make connections beyond having children of a similar age.
I didn't want to go, but I had to drag the boys away to meet the furniture delivery truck at the house (I was torn)... I whole-heartedly thanked the host, for everything. She promised the boys she'd have them over again (that means me too!) Then - to my horror - I had to ask if I could drive across her grass to avoid making the four cars move that were blocking me in. Her response? "Sure! Drive on anything you want!"
Now somehow I just don't think I'd get that response back East.
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