(One way I live literarily is to write event invitations with puns, double entendres, rhymes, and whatever other literary devices sound good to me at the moment. Here is the invitation I sent out for my wife’s birthday party. This email isn’t a major (or minor) work of art, will likely never be published, but I took a little extra time to think through it and make it sound humorous, though at spots a little cheesy. Sometimes, cheesy is the right thing to do. And while Washington wasn’t a literary figure, using an historic person or event or place as an element or theme of a party adds a nice dimension.)
Come get high with us…
…as we celebrate _____’s birthday this Sunday.
The festivities, at which we will honor a truly monumental lady, begin at 2:45 on Sunday, December 12. We’ll gather at the base of the Washington Monument looking up to the top like we look up to ____. Then together, taking deep breaths and possibly holding them for a few seconds, we will get very high, ascending that famous obelisk to mark her fifty-second birthday. How appropriate that we honor a big-picture person by getting a monument’s-eye view of Washington. How apt to spend time in the structure honoring the Father of our Nation to honor the Mother of my Children. How right/ to ascend that height/ to note _____/ a delight.
Imagine our excitement, entering the lifts at the base, then going up, up, up, higher and higher, toward the end, almost to the top, and, finally, finally: BURSTING forth from the elevators, the sense of joy and relief palpable as we take it all in.
She asked for a low-key birthday party, but this Sunday, she’s gonna soar (and us with her).
After we all settle down a bit and take the tour we descend again to earth, to Alexandria, to Casa ______ for one of her favorite sorts of meals. There’ll be no sitting at the table, plates before us, napkins on our laps, oh no, but rather we’ll graze on ample appetizers, ‘eavy hors d’oevers, substantial snacks. And we’ll wash ’em all down with beverages hard and soft, fermented and still.
And of course a dessert that will take the cake!
A coupla things:
-This ain’t a surprise. She’s privy.
– I know the distance to travel here and the timing will make it difficult or impossible for some of you to attend. I wanted to let you know about it anyway. Forgive the shortish notice.
– Let me know if you’re coming. I’ve already reserved some of the fabulously expensive tickets for the Monumental Tour, but want to know if I need to order a few more.
See you on the Mall at the Monument on Sunday!
