The Monthly Chronic-les of Life
Chapter 13: Halloween Haze and Pre-Party Calm
October 30th: Venice, Florida (The Calm Before the Chaos)
It was the day before the big Halloween party, and Venice, Florida, was feeling unusually serene. The calm before the storm, Paul thought, standing on Christy’s porch. He had to admit, they’d done a stellar job getting the house party-ready—orange string lights flickered above the porch, a pirate ship made of cardboard stood proudly by the door, and inside, a sea of spooky decorations waited for the guests to arrive.
But the quiet had a funny way of making you feel like you’d forgotten something. Paul had that familiar knot in his stomach, the kind that showed up right before an event—when there was nothing left to do but worry.
Christy came out onto the porch with two mugs of coffee, her hair still a mess from sleep. "You look like you’re plotting something," she said, handing Paul his mug. "What’s on your mind?"
Paul shrugged, trying to shake the unease. "Just that last-minute stress, you know? I think everything’s ready, but I can’t help wondering if we missed something."
Christy sipped her coffee and leaned against the railing, gazing out at their handiwork. "Same here. It’s the quiet that does it—it lulls you into thinking you’ve got it all handled, then boom! Something goes wrong." She paused, then laughed. "Listen to us. It’s like we’re waiting for the house to catch fire."
Paul chuckled but knew they were both feeling it—the low-level anxiety that always hit before a big event. "Well," he said, "if it helps, I think the decorations are solid, the food is ready to go, and we’ve got those XITE Key Lime drinks for the party. Worst case, we sit back, sip on some Delta-9, and let the chaos unfold."
Christy grinned. "You mean they sit back with the Delta-9 drinks. We’re the ones running the show." She gave him a look that said she was feeling the pressure too. "Honestly, though, I think we need something for us. You know, to help keep the stress in check."
Paul raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"
Christy disappeared inside for a moment and returned with a small jar in her hand. She held it up like it was a secret weapon. "Ta-da! Creating Better Days Black Ice 10:1 CBD/THC Gummies. I picked these up at Tri-Healthy yesterday. They’re mostly CBD—perfect for stress relief without making you feel loopy."
Paul eyed the jar, intrigued. "10:1, huh? So more relaxation, less buzz. Sounds like exactly what we need."
Christy popped the lid and handed him a gummy. "Exactly. I figured instead of saving these for the guests, we could take them now and avoid spiraling into panic mode."
Paul accepted the gummy and popped it into his mouth. "Not a bad idea. Halloween’s supposed to be fun, right? If we’re stressed out, no one else is going to have a good time either."
They sat down on the porch steps, enjoying the cool morning air while the effects of the gummy slowly set in. The Black Ice gummies were subtle but effective, easing the tightness in Paul’s shoulders and replacing it with a sense of calm that hadn’t been there before. He glanced over at Christy, who looked noticeably more relaxed herself.
"Okay," Paul said, feeling a wave of calm wash over him. "This was a good call. I feel like I can actually breathe now."
Christy nodded, her eyes closed as she leaned back against the porch railing. "Right? I was starting to feel like I had a hundred things left to do, but now... I’m thinking we’re good. These Black Ice gummies are magical."
Paul chuckled. "Definitely a better idea than panicking. Maybe we should just spend the day like this—chilling out, double-checking a few things, but not going overboard."
Christy grinned. "Now you’re speaking my language. Everything’s already set for the party. We’ve got the decorations, the drinks, the snacks, and the playlist. What’s left to worry about?"
Paul glanced over at the pirate ship, its cardboard sails swaying slightly in the breeze. "Not much. Maybe the fog machine, but honestly, if that’s the biggest problem, I think we’re doing alright."
They both laughed, the earlier stress now a distant memory. The gummies had done their job—taking the edge off without knocking them out. It felt like they were back in control, the pre-party jitters replaced with a feeling of quiet confidence.
As the sun started climbing higher, they moved inside to put the finishing touches on the decorations. It was easygoing now—no frantic rushing, just small adjustments and last-minute checks. Paul added a few extra cobwebs around the windows, while Christy arranged the snack table for the hundredth time, though this time with a much calmer approach.
By early afternoon, the house was officially party-ready. The pirate ship was still standing, the pumpkins were glowing, and the air smelled like cinnamon and spice. Paul and Christy took a final look around, admiring their work.
"Looks good, right?" Paul asked, a note of satisfaction in his voice.
Christy nodded, smiling. "It looks great. And thanks to those Black Ice gummies, I’m actually excited about tomorrow instead of dreading it."
Paul raised his mug of coffee in a mock toast. "To stress-free parties and CBD gummies."
Christy clinked her mug against his. "And to us surviving Halloween without losing our minds."
They spent the rest of the day relaxing, confident that everything was in place for the party. The stress that had been gnawing at them earlier had melted away, replaced with a sense of calm that promised tomorrow’s party would be as much fun for them as it would be for their guests.
Paul stretched out on the couch, a lazy smile spreading across his face. "I gotta say, between these gummies and the Delta-9 drinks, we’ve got the perfect balance of fun and relaxation lined up. People are going to love it."
Christy, already dozing off in the armchair, murmured her agreement. "Yep... best party ever."
And as the sun set over Venice, Paul couldn’t help but think that maybe she was right.
Guiding Questions:
- How do Paul and Christy use the Creating Better Days Black Ice CBD/THC gummies to manage their stress ahead of the Halloween party?
- What does their newfound calm suggest about how they’ve grown in handling events like these together?
- How do the gummies set the tone for a more relaxed, enjoyable party for the hosts?
Feeling the stress of the season? Head to one of our Tri-Healthy locations in Niles, OH; Venice, FL; or North Port, FL to grab your own bottle of Creating Better Days Black Ice 10:1 CBD/THC Gummies. They're perfect for taking the edge off without taking you out!
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