Caught by Storm

"Tent People" you say? Well, this is a different kind of tent people. When I turned 50, I thought that I would have a big 'Lu'au' - a Hawaian themed bash. Already, my husband's cousin donated a couple of tents that he had used for his son's graduation party. The whole "Hawaii-Five" theme was in a go position.

Then, my neighbor Jackie, who means well and tries to be neighborly, shows up. Of course she and her husand were invited. Everyone was welcome. She sells her jams at the farmer's market the next town over. She offered her small overhead tent which she uses for her jam days. I did not ask to borrow it, nor would I. I thought it would be gracious to accept her offer as she seemed eager to help though I was fine without it. Heck, I could put the cake on a table under that awning.

Well, the party was great fun. My mother and a couple of my sisters drove over three hours to be here for it. A cousin from Maine came, and my former neighbor from my hometown surprised me.

There was lots of food and music and just overall fun.

Suddenly, on this mid-July afternoon, it began to cloud over. The day was going to end with a bang it seemed. It began to downpour. I mean a deluge! The wind picked up. It was unusual, because it was actually classified as a hurricane. There was no control over what was to ensue.

Everyone scurried to bring the food and fanfare inside. Everything was blowing all over the place - including, not only Jim's cousin's rented tents, but my neighbor Kathy's smaller overhead tent. My husband was able to retrieve it from the f ield. It was in a bit of disarray. It just caught us by storm - no pun intended!

Now Jackie and her husband have a beautiful home. They take good care of their property. They made some good investments so they have the wherewithall, as Miss Hall would say, to keep it up. So, when they came down the next day to pick up their tent, they were not happy campers. Wait, did I just say that - tent and campers?!

Anyway, I had two huge birthday cakes. The second one was not cut into yet. I decided as a peace offering, I could take it out when they came (unannounced) and put on the coffee.

I apologized profusely about the tent getting tangled up. Of course I would replace it.

"Well, this was an expensive, good-quality one". Jackie drove this point home.

"Yes, I respect that, and I am so sorry about what happened. There is no way that I could have known that this would occur." Rich , Jackie's husband sat there snarling.

I did not even ask to borrow the tent.

Well, since I had turned fifty, I received plenty of fifty dollar gifts. I went on Amazon and started researching tents similar to that one. Hers was made in China. I ordered one for about $150. It came within two days. I was never so happy to bring them that to replace the one that got caught in the storm.

A couple of years later, she moves and that very tent was in her lawn sale. People sure are funny. How can one get upset over a material possession that was affected by things beyond one's control.