and the winner is....

Tonight was the 84th Academy Awards.  I always think of Suzanne and Kelly on Oscar night...before we all had children and couldn't stay out late on a Sunday night, they used to host  Oscar parties at their house.  If I close my eyes, I'm there...sitting on the floor in the living room, loving on Buster.  If I really go back, I'm in the great room of the house on Overlook Circle...that's the party at which Jason fell on the sidewalk while leaving, bless his heart.  I hope his ass doesn't hurt every year on Oscar night, remembering that icy walk!  I should have asked him that during our Oscar text-fest tonight. 

Usual Murphy party rules applied - drinks provided, bring your own if it's something not on the list, bring a snack to share, and, remember, Casa de Murphy is a national park:  you bring it in, you bring it out. ( I could often weasel my way around that by bringing something one of them really liked....I still enjoy doing that.)   

Score cards, printed by Suzanne and Kelly,  in hand, we would pick our favorites, fix plates, and get down to business: judging the dresses.  Who saw which film? What do you think the front-runners are in each category?  Who is picking winners at pure random? Friends would catch up by the food table during commercial breaks, so much laughter rang through the house....and some really loud voices.  One year, I even worked on a baby blanket Suzanne ordered from me for a friend's baby shower (Davey Hoy, maybe?) while I sat on the floor by the fireplace. 

At the end of the night, prizes were given to those who had picked the winners.  The prizes were crazy - re-gifted items no one would ever need, use, or want; dollar store specials; always funny.  So funny.  One year when I won, I remember hiding my scary prize under the couch cushions.....a treat for Suzanne to find later. I played dumb when she said she found it, but I couldn't stop laughing.  It gave me away, I'm certain! 

Tonight on Facebook, Sukrit posted that he was watching the Oscars and thinking of the fun times at Suzanne and Kelly's....it warmed my heart so much to know he was thinking of it, too. He posted a link to a blog he wrote after one - my favorite line was about KellyBoi (who he referred to just this way - I actually laughed right out loud!  I thought only Suzanne and I referred to him as the Boi!), introducing Sukrit to all their friends.  KellyBoi said that we were the most "sensitive, non-judgmental" group of people.  I can think of no finer compliment.  We are funny, we are loud, we are kind, we talk about theatre too much (or did before we had kids!), we geniunely love each other.....but wow.  How wonderful that those were the first two things a friend would point out. 

I doubt I will ever spend an Oscar night without smiling at these memories, trying to recall more details, feeling grateful that God blessed me with these people.  It's my own award, more precious than any golden statue.  Though I still wouldn't say no to a real Oscar.