The importance of something we take totally for granted, water, was brought home to us in a big way this weekend. We had decided to throw a house-warming B-B-Q for our neighbors, the formers owners, now dear friends, and new friends we had made since moving to Virginia.
As usual, I spent the whole day picking up enough food to feed everyone in Goochland County whilst Ed set up the party area in the backyard. When I got back, the Volvo heaved its way up the driveway, completely full of every imaginable ingredient for a cook-out.
Ed was busy hosing off the patio when he called out to me. “Honey, are you running water for something?” In a panic, I ran to the sink and turned on the tap. Nothing!
We were an hour away from the guests arriving and the pump for the well had quit. It had been a terrible month. First the air conditioning quit (5 weeks later we are still waiting for the warranty company to complete the repairs. Note to self: Find new warranty company). The tractor died, as well as the lawnmower, and now the pump. Ed immediately changed the name of the business to “Broke Down Farm,” and sank into a deep depression.
Fortunately, we are both in the motion picture business, and ingenuity is the number one skill required to succeed. Ed dragged the water dispenser from the barn. I pulled the dozen gallons bottle of water we had stored in the freezer. I used a little of the precious substance to boil the eggs (no party amounts to anything with out deviled eggs). I poured the boiled water into the sink to wash the dishes. Ed set out every bucket we possessed, and we prayed for rain. Not something you would normally do with 20 people on the way for an outside party. Unfortunately, our prayers to date have not been answered despite the predicted thunderstorms.
The party was anenormous success. Ed and I have a tradition of throwing large parties. In Moorpark, we always held a 4th July party and gradually, over the years, the numbers increased to around 60 people. With a few exceptions, they were all animal people. Friends I worked with at Animal Rescue Volunteers, Alpaca owners and breeders, dog trainers, staff from the Camarillo Animal Shelter, Vets, and dog lovers. Some people would bring their dogs, so added to the nine we had at the time, it was bedlam.
Exhausted, we sat outside on the veranda enjoying a refreshing evening breeze, but no rain. A smile crept over my face. No water, no washing up!