As the wettest month of the year ramped up, my mother wrote home to her parents in Idaho about the Welch soirée of the season, held at the end of August.
“Well,” she wrote. “We had our big housewarming party for Vietnamese and American friends and it was a huge success to say the least. But, what a job and Jim and I were both so happy when it was all over.
“About two hours before it was to begin a big storm hit and the rain poured down for about an hour. We all tore to the roof and grabbed flowers and tablecloths off of the ten tables set up and got the band’s instruments inside.
“But, fortunately, the rain stopped and we were able to set it all up again before the guests arrived.
“About 100 people came and on the roof we had a band and good singers – professional – from downtown. (Jim was able to get them to come in as they sometimes do work for him at his studio.)
“The buffet was set up in the dining room so I had a job of circulating from top to bottom getting people to eat…rather than just dancing.
“The whole affair was really funny tho – as General Trung was attending – for 3 blocks around our house there were security guards and his car and our chief’s car were the only two allowed into our alley.
“Everybody else had to park elsewhere and walk back and up our very muddy alley due to the rain. Anyway, all of the work and strain was worth it as a good time was had by all – and our kids and some of their friends really had a ball too.
“If I ever do anything that large again I think I’d just have a cocktail party … the big job seemed to be the 100 plates, 100 sets of knives, forks and spoons, 100 wine glasses, and 100 coffee cups—fortunately, this house could handle that number on the roof garden.”
She signed the letter, as always: Love, Nancy.
What else happened for the Welches in Saigon in September 1974? Click below to hear to my reading from For the Love of Vietnam: a war, a family, a CIA official, and the best evacuation story never heard.
(Note, if you are planning to attend the Sept 30 book release party in Round Lake, NY, you may want to wait to hear it in person!)
Something extra: A little fiction
If you’re interested in a little something extra, here is the “Sudden Fiction” I wrote yesterday, inspired by a recent conversation with a Vietnamese guest who described the delicious smell of fried pork at the Big Housewarming Party.
A Divine Temptation
A Sudden Fiction for The Saigon Diaries, Middle Grade Novel
Hoa walked by and the smell of frying pork snapped into Averie’s nostrils like a flying dragon. She stood on her favorite chair and looked out over the crowd of people. Her eyes followed the round tray, draped with a red linen table napkin, on which were perched myriad white paper napkins each with a petite rolled nam chua set precisely in the middle. She still didn’t like Vietnamese food, she told herself, but this dish smelled divine.
She’d heard her mom telling the cook, Hoa, this morning that she must fry the ham, cook it through. Hoa argued that it was pickled, okay to eat. Her mom must have felt Averie’s gaze upon her for she turned to look right at her. She turned back to Hoa and Mr. Bi.
“Averie does not like raw meat.” When Mr. Bi translated, all eyes turned back to her. Averie could see something turn over in Hoa’s mind. She turned back toward the kitchen and took down the giant iron frying pan from its overhead hook. As Averie turned away she heard the snik-snik-snikking sound of the gas burner on the stove. Her mom once again had prevailed. ~9/25/23
Thank you for reading.
Until next time, stay safe and well. ❦