Reverb 10, December 9--Party

"December 9 – Party Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)"

Party? Did I go to any parties?  I guess I went to some gatherings, but I'm feeling quite sad right now, because I didn't do anything or go anywhere really special.  There was nothing that rocked my socks off.  That's not to say I didn't do some enjoyable things, go to some enjoyable gatherings. But I'm finding myself wishing I'd done at least one really special, fantastic, memorable thing this year.  The good news is this is showing me something I need to make sure happens next year.

Just so it's not too sad, the fun gatherings I went to this year:

• The I Heart Art Portland mixer in February
• My birthday party--it was small, but it was the first time since 1998 that I've been home for my birthday, and my aunt made special food, and some of my cousins came, and there was cake, and it was warm and loving and really great
• Our NaNoWriMo kickoff party which ended up being almost twice as large as I expected and filled with awesome, enthusiastic writers
• The Soiree of Furious Typing a couple of weeks ago, because there's nothing like staying up with a bunch of other writers until midnight in a cozy, slightly funky coffee house that's playing Dead Can Dance on the speakers specially for you

Here's a different sort of list.  What gatherings do I wish had happened this year to knock my socks off?  Maybe if I know what I want, I'll be able to create it in 2011.

• Something like Kelly Rae Roberts' LoveBomb group.  I have a longing, a craving deep in my heart, for days walking the beach and nights drinking wine around the fire with other women who share my love for books and writing and making art and being a little odd and watching the moon and listening to the rain
• A trip to one of the Steampunk conventions, complete with awesome outfit; I'd love to go, soak in the atmosphere, see the clothes and bright shiny things
• The Willamette Writers' Conference because I loved it when I did get to go and really want to go again

I need to stretch myself, push myself to get out of the house next year and make some of these things happen. People aren't just going to visit me in my bedroom, you know!  Learning so much from writing these little Reverb 10 snippets...