The invitation arrived late Thursday for a party Saturday night in Boulder.
The plan was a hot tub, drinks, and whatever else people brought. Towels and ridiculous swimwear were encouraged. Anyone who could not drive home could stay over.
The email went to a long group of people around Denver and Boulder. The sender asked everyone to pass it along if somebody had been left off. That was the guest list: the addresses already on the message plus whoever received a forward.
There was no reservation, ticket, or formal schedule. The invitation named a house, a Saturday night, and a general plan. It arrived with about two days of notice.
I had not replied. The email does not put me at the party or say whether I planned to go. It only put the invitation in my inbox.
The timing was loose, but the instructions were practical. Bring a towel. Bring something to drink. Wear something suitable for the hot tub. Do not drive if drinking made that unsafe. A place to sleep was available.
The invitation had started as one person's plan for the house. Sending it to the group made the final number impossible to know from the first message. Every forward could add another person, and every reply could change who expected to be there.
None of that was settled Thursday night. Saturday was still two days away. I had the address, the plan, and an invitation to pass along.
That is as far as my email went.