Thanks for the shout out, Lindy. I remember your comment on my story now, once I'd read this - great to read the whole context!

"God only knew who these invitees were." Love this! I remember that thought when my parents would have people around. They'd inevitably roll out my sister and I to meet their version of the "Van Valkenburgs". We'd be in our PJs, smelling like fresh soap and with wet hair. We'd be required to put on a smile and answer the same mundane questions all the adults seemed to have, then just as quickly we'd be ushered away, never to lay eyes on the Van Valkenburgs again.