Monday Memories -- Bridal Showers

1982.  Vera and Elsie hosted it in Vera’s big family room in her basement.  Vera gave me beautiful blue glasses.  Isabelle gave me a pewter bread plate that says, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  We drank punch and I wore a paper plate hat made of ribbons and bows.  I was very humbled that the women of our community would be so generous and kind.  It was my bridal shower.

 One of the things I love about Ande is her enthusiasm.  Several times in the last few weeks when I talked to her on the phone, she would pause and then say, “Guess what, Mom?  They’re going to have a party!  For me!  I can’t wait.”  She was speaking of these three women who were hosting a bridal shower for her:

Shelly, Becky, Brenda

And it was a party. 

Shelly is so dependable and such a follow-through person.  She held the shower in her beautiful home and made sure the guest list was covered and complete and that everyone felt welcomed and wanted.  Shelly is the one that taught our girls that a shower is a time for the older women of the community to welcome and include the new brides into that circle of friendship that women have.  Shelly offers the hand that pulls them into that circle.  It’s the feeling of being wanted that makes a party.

Becky is a thoughtful, detail person.  The girls often refer to special things as “It has that Becky flair to it.”   Becky planned the invitations and games around Literature and Art, two of Ande’s favorite things.  (One game was called The Perfect Literary Man.  Becky asked Ande to write a description of Joe which she added to the descriptions of the likes of Rhett Butler, the Phantom, The Count, Mr. Rochester, etc.  We matched the descriptions to the men.)  And since one of Ande’s favorite pieces of art is Starry Night, Becky had us all write a wish for Ande and then compiled them in a darling, bejeweled book.  It’s the details that make a party.

  

Brenda is a fun and bright conversationalist.  She includes others in the talk and laughs easily.  She’s a breath of fresh air.  Brenda personifies party.  She also comes with a platter of hand-dipped chocolates.  One of my favorite times of any party that Brenda helps to host is when she personally serves the chocolates to the guests.  I love watching everyone’s eyes light up at choosing and Brenda identifying the different shapes and designs while visiting with each guest.  Laughter, fun conversation, and chocolates make a party.

The bonus to these women’s party talents is that they are all very good cooks.  

Ande was thrilled.  It was her party!  It was a fun time to share with her and women who love and care about her.  It was humbling to be with women of the community who are so generous and kind.

Betty Lou, LuDeen, Betty
Ande

. . . the hands that pull them into the circle of friendship . . .