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The party's today! I'm excited. The weather looks beautiful, Allan's got the whole weekend off, and I feel like I'm on vacation. There's been a flurry of last-minute cancellations, of course; that seems to be inevitable. I've learned not to worry about who can't make it, and just enjoy the company of who shows.

Last year, we actually knew very few of our guests before they arrived. It was more like an internet meet-up than a regular party. This year, it feels like our friends are coming over. That is a great feeling.

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