cookout with a cat host

In the early 1970s, I was off the road and starting a new life as a college student ( sans a high school diploma, but how that worked out at graduation time is another story). I had just shifted my carving studio from the third floor of a huge loft building to a small brick structure just past the old location. To celebrate, I threw a big cookout for my friends in the loft studios and my new friends at Boston University’s Metropolitan College.

My cooking skills were limited. But I got creative and made up recipes and names for the concoctions. The main course was a marinated ( as in lots of Spanish Sherry) lamb shiskabob served with multiple side dishes.
Greeting and cooking were my main jobs throughout the party. I relegated hosting duties to my large grey at Clancy ( AKA the Grey Menace). Clancy loved a good party even more than he appreciated the taste of fresh O negative blood. He circulated, ensured all the women petted him, and sampled the meat frequently. Friends who played instruments brought them, and the guests had a fantastic time. The truckers from the adjacent businesses came by with a few cases of beer to add to the mix. After eating, there was music, telling tales, and watching the flames jump in the fire.
With no leftovers, the meal was a success. By popular demand we repeated the cookout annually for a number of years.