Instant Holiday Party

It's Not Too Late, I Promise!
by Kathryn B. Lord, L.C.S.W.

Here's the latest super-simple idea that I have had, so easy that you could do it yourself, right away ... Whoops! You need a little history.

If you are a regular reader, you know that I have a new book coming out, "Looking for Action? The Find a Sweetheart Party Planner." In "Looking for Action?" I write about how I built a vibrant, exciting social circle in a city where I knew practically no one -- by entertaining. I decided to be where the action was, actually, the center of the action, by throwing parties.

Loneliness and isolation are major problems for singles. Even more so, how do you meet new people, even singles who might be mate candidates or who know your future Sweetheart, though you haven't met either of them yet?

Most folks feel that the even the thought of entertaining is so daunting that they never get beyond square one. Believe me, IT IS NOT THAT HARD, and you'll find "Looking for Action? The Find a Sweetheart Party Planner" makes it as simple as can be.

Christmas light displays are a big deal here in Tallahassee. The local paper coordinates suggestions from the public on the best of the best, and maps out routes for lights fans. No snow makes it easier to stage elaborate shows, and the mild climate probably inspires homeowners to try to create some winter. It is still odd for this northerner to see images of snowmen and sleighs when it is warm enough to be wearing shorts.

I love looking at the lights, and for years have searched out the best extravaganzas, even when I was living in rural Maine and that meant laying down some risky miles on snow and ice.

When I lived here in the 1990's, one year, the city bus company sponsored a Jingle Bells Tour, using city buses to drive routes around the best light displays. Perfect! I didn't even have to drive! But I wanted to share the fun, so I contacted my party invitation list to see if anyone else enjoyed the tacky displays as much as I did.

When the time came, we had a group of about 25 and practically took over an entire bus. I had made cookies, impromptu carol singing sprang up, and we had a FABULOUS time! People still talk about it.

Well, while I was away in Mississippi starting a life with Drew, the city stopped the bus tours. Sadness.

"But," I thought, "why let that stop us?" I got online and found that I could rent a 12 passenger van for a day for about $120. I reserved the van and then sent out invitations (via evite.com, another "new favorite" resource for hosts). I even proposed that we share the cost of the van ($10 each).

Well, didn't those seats get snapped up? We've got a full house, and are going out to look at North Florida's version of folk art, the Christmas light displays, this Sunday evening.

This has got to be the super-simplest party idea I have ever come up with! If you were to decide to do it, you wouldn't even have to clean your house. You don't need to let people inside, even! Have people meet at a central location.

And you can buy the darned cookies, for heaven's sake. And you don't even have to rent the van: People can car pool and follow a route together. Though I think that being all together in the bus will be more fun.

This idea is even cheap: $10 apiece for the van, and I am making the cookies.

Think about it: when you get this newsletter, there will be 10 more days of folks burning the kilowatt hours to make these fanciful panoramas. You could pick an evening, designate a time and a meeting place and put out the word, get (or make) a map to follow (our city paper does the work for us). Make or buy a tray of cookies and then show up! What could be easier???

(This year, I've added to the fun by collecting some seasonal headgear, Santa hats and such. One guest is picking up some special glasses at the local synagogue gift store that makes lights look like the Star of David. I'm hoping that someone will lead some carol singing. But you don't have to do any of that to still have a great time.)

Remember: The best route to getting something different going on in your life is to DO something different. When you sit at home alone or only see the same old people, why should you expect your life to be any different? What could you do different between now and New Year's Eve that would make it more likely that you would have next year's holidays with your own true love?

About the Author

www.find-a-sweetheart.com
I am Kathryn Lord and I am a CyberRomance Coach. I get people ready for love, help them find a Sweetheart using the Internet, then learn what they need to know for a relationship that lasts.