…That’s what Chris said to me late last night. I was getting ready for bed, about to write a weekend recap post (as I usually do), and struggling to find the words. Struggling to find a way to make everything “rainbows and sunshine” as we so often do in blogland.
After he said that to me? I closed my laptop and went to sleep.
If you’ve been following along, you know that yesterday was Abbie’s first birthday party. You know I’ve been planning it for weeks, that I took Friday off from work to prep, and that we were having the party early so my in-laws could be here for it. If you live in the DC area, you also know that Sunday morning, we woke up to this…and it just kept coming.
I had been checking the forecast since Friday. You know sometimes you think if you ignore something, it’ll go away? Yeah, that didn’t happen here.
It was only snowing at our house, but further south and west things were different. They were getting sleet, freezing rain, and ice – basically, impossible driving conditions. The first cancellations came from the people traveling the farthest – my two best friends, from 2-3 hours away. Then we started getting cancellations from an hour away, and even 20 minutes away.
In the end, my parents and sisters weren’t even able to come.
Needless to say, I was a mess. I know it’s not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. I know Abbie won’t remember. I know she had fun with the people that were able to come (and if you guys are reading this, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me that you were there). But the thing is – I remember.
I’ll remember how I planned for weeks, and mother nature just wouldn’t bend to my plans. That there are dozens of cupcakes I had to bring to work since people weren’t there to eat them. That I so wanted to see ALL of my favorite people all in the same place, celebrating my little girl – and I didn’t get that. It’s what I wanted most of all – a chance to spend time with all the people I love.
I’ve been trying to find the right word for what I’ve been feeling, and the only one I can come up with is disappointment. This is the part of the post where I’m supposed to find the silver lining, right? I’m trying to get there, but I’m just not yet. And you know what? That’s okay. It’s okay for me to be disappointed. It’s okay to feel what I’m feeling and write about it. I’ve promised myself that I’ll do a lot with this little space of mine, but number one is that I want to be honest. I don’t believe in pretending to be someone I’m not and having emotions I don’t have. So when Chris said maybe I shouldn’t blog yet, I listened. He somehow knew I needed the night to process things. I knew I’d be back today.
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and if you’re in the DC area, actually enjoyed the snow this weekend. I’ll be showing off the party we did have later this week.
26 Responses
Nothing like illness or weather to spoil a great plan. I’m sorry things didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped – and good for you telling it like it is. Nobody’s life is perfect all the time!
I’m so sorry this happened. I can totally understand the disappointment after all the planning and work you put into it. Any chance you can have it again (maybe on a smaller scale) at another time? Next month? I know it doesn’t change anything or make you feel better, but at least you’d get to celebrate Abbie again with those that can make it.
How frustrating! I know it’s hard when things that have taken a lot of time and effort are thwarted. I hope that the party you were able to have was special regardless!
🙁 i am sorry it didn’t turn out as expected, but i am sure that abbie had a blast! mother nature is a B sometimes. i hope you get to see those who didn’t make it over christmas or sometime soon! though that doesn’t change all the planning you put into it i know.
ps. love your new blog design!
Aw you have every right to be upset and disappointed! While she not remember it you were looking forward to it! Someone once told me it’s okay to mourn the lose of a fairytale as long as you remember in real life the fairytale is never done being written!
That is disappointing. 🙁 but the good thing is that only you were disappointed. Abbie still had a fabulous time and it didn’t matter that some people weren’t able to make it. It’s frustrating that you spent so much time planning and it didn’t go as planned. Life happens sometimes.
I’m so sorry that things didn’t work out as planned for her Birthday!! I can’t even imagine how disappointing that was! But hopefully you were still able to enjoy the day and celebrate with the ones who came! xoxo
I am sorry 🙁 I hope youre OK with our storm tonight too.
Yep we got it and now more coming is coming in the morning. My son was born right before a major snowstorm on 2/1/96, so we never planned parties due to the fact that the weather might not cooperate. We did however, get a good one in on his 5th – so don’t give up hope. Stay safe and warm!
Oh Jess, my heart broke for you as I read this. I know how excited you were for her party and how much work you put into it. I’d be throwing a pity party if I were in your shoes, too. My birthday lands in January and I now we had to cancel my party more than a few times because of bad weather. It sucks, but I honestly haven’t thought twice about it until right now. One time, we were all supposed to go ice skating up in the mountains, but the roads were closed. So instead, my friends came over and we just had hot coco. This probably won’t be the last time Abbie’s party will have a change in plans, but I know you’ll make it special for her no matter what!!
thinking of you! So frustrating and disappointing and I appreciate your honesty! xo
I am so sorry to hear that happened. I am glad to hear that she still had a wonderful time with the friends who were able to make it out to celebrate. Living in Canada (and in what feels like the winter capital of the world right now) – I completely understand how you feel about weather ruining plans.
Thanks – it was definitely a hard day…I guess that’s winter birthday for you, huh?
Thanks – we’re going to try to do something small, maybe at my mom’s house, but there just isn’t a ton of room there so we can’t really invite everyone we originally had coming. It was just sad since I so wanted to see everyone. I think half-birthday celebrations may be in our future…
A few friends did make it, so it was good to see them – just wish it had gone differently!
She did have fun, but mother nature is definitely not my friend right now!
That’s a sweet way to look at it – thanks so much!
I did..thank you!
So true.
Thanks Mandy – just wish it had gone differently. Stupid weather!
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thanks, I thought it was better to be honest about it rather than pretend everything was fine…I always appreciate reading true feelings in others as well.
I’m sure! It’s just so unusual for us to get this kind of weather so early in December…like I literally don’t remember the last time it happened, and I’ve lived in VA for 25 years! Just frustrating.
Thanks honey. My birthday is October so I never had it happen to me…now I know. I think we may end up with some half birthday parties in the future.
Hi…I’m a new reader and I’m catching up on posts..I just wanted to say that this happened for my son’s 1st birthday party too. I live in Minnesota and his birthday is December 7th. What was I thinking?!? Anyway, there was 20 inches of snow on his 1st birthday party day and no one could come. On the day of his scheduled 2nd birthday party his grandpa died! (my dad) On the day of his 3rd birthday party there was a blizzard and my best friend’s dad (one of my son’s caretakers) died. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? FINALLY this year for his 4th birthday we had a successful party!