Après-Dîner Equinox Party

On September 22, we had an Equinox Party to properly put our summer days behind us and welcome the chilly Autumn days. Our evenings had been so pleasant I thought for sure we would be able to spend this 'last' Summer evening outdoors. However, a few nights before brought in gray skies followed by showers, I paniced.
Fortunately, it worked out perfectly: Music filled the air by three musicians who just met that evening, crisp clean air moved about a glowing bonfire and glasses clink-clanked amidst the chatter of old & new friends.
Sometimes when we have a roomful of guests I step back to take it all in. It's another moment of being thankful for those who have been in my life and those who are newly in it. I observe the groups that have formed and nod with approval seeing friends find themselves absorbed in a commonality beyond a mutual friend, the host. I take advantage of being able to flit in and out of conversations making sure all is happy.
We take stock of what we have...

Once we closed the doors behind the last guests and cleared our home of any evidence of an Après-Dîner Equinox Party, we went to bed talking about the evening as we do after every gathering. We talked about who we spent time with, who of our friends met whom, what we liked about the gathering, what we'd change the next time...with a laugh here, a chuckle there and a smile unseen in the dark, we fell asleep on Equinox.