Reverb 10: Day 9 - Party

Today's Reverb 10 prompt:

December 9 – Party

Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

(Author: Shauna Reid)

Asking a decided introvert what social event was the best of the season seems a bit crazy to me.  I am the person who will weigh my options and at least 5 of every 10 times I'm invited out, decide that staying home alone sounds like the far better option.

That said, three social events, all very different, and spread across the year stand out.

The first is my brother's wedding.  It stands out for a couple of reasons.  He was the first sibling (and the baby of the family) to get married.  My other brother and I were in the wedding party, and our dad performed the wedding ceremony - it was truly a family affair.  It was full of laughter and celebration, and maybe just slightly bittersweet as we officially entered a new era as a family.  It also stands out because I lost the job I'd had for the previous three years in a rather dramatic fashion the day immediately after the wedding.

The second is a Moroccan Tea that I attended while I was in California.  It was special for the newness of the experience and the chance to meet and enjoy friends of a friend.  It was full of color and joy, and held my interest in a "I'm taking this all in" sort of way, as someone who loves the nations of the earth, and has spent time praying for them, including for Morocco.  A photo of the spread on the tea table that day hangs on my "wall of happy memories" full of photos surrounding a map of the world.  It was also the place where I discovered one more place (bringing the grand total on my list to three) where mint flavoring is acceptable.  The list now includes chewing gum, toothpaste, and Moroccan mint tea!

The third event is a baby shower that I attended last weekend.  It was unique in the chance to celebrate the fact that a very dear friend is about to become a parent.  It was unique in the mixture of people that my friend drew together, from incredibly varied social and cultural spheres, and how, because of a shared love for our friend, a group that would likely have never mixed well in any other setting, bubbled over with laughter, girl talk, and the joy of celebrating our friend's impending motherhood.  It was unique in that conversations flipped back and forth from Spanish to English, with either translation, or not, depending on which one you happened to join.  No one minded, and there was laughter, bubbly personalities, and much co-mingling as we celebrated joyfully together.

Three events, not bad for an introvert huh?  What stands out in each are the people, the mood, the moments that made them special.  But mostly the people.  There are special memories in each of those moments that I am so grateful to pause and recall.