Sweet 16 Ceremony and Cookie Exchange
December 9, 2012
Purchased my rod, reel, and tackle to go fishing on Saturday, but never got to the park. There were too many other events going on this weekend. I hope this is what retirement will be like.
First, look at the picture above. I was invited to a good friend's daughter's Sweet 16 celebration. I'm not calling it a party, because it was more ceremonial than a party. And the photo came from pinterest, but the tables were just this elaborately decorated.
The room was set up and decorated as elaborately as a formal wedding. Table linens, linen chair covers, all tied with beautiful red fabric bows. The centerpieces were four-foot high clear glass vases topped with bouquets of flowers.
Adrienne, the honoree, wore a formal golden gown that could have come from Saks Fifth Avenue. There was a shoe-changing ceremony. The father kneels before the seated honoree and changes her flat beautiful shoes to sophisticated fashion heels. Then the father and daughter shared a dance to "Butterfly Kisses." We were crying tears of joy for the lovely young girl who was now officially a lovely young woman. Just like a Bar Mitzvah, the passage into adulthood.
I left after 3 hours but the party went on well toward the stroke of midnight, with dancing and partying for all the family and friends. How moving and touching to see such love.
Today I baked 6 dozen cookies for my neighbor's Christmas cookie exchange party. It was another lovely, but casually friendly event to remember. Actually, this is not a photo from the cookie exchange, but those chocolate cookies look exactly like what I baked. The table was covered in platters and bowls of cookies!
There was even a table for the children to decorate sugar cookies with every icing and sprinkle imaginable. After stuffing ourselves with the cookies everyone brought, we were able to take home containers of all the cookies people baked with love. Thank you Breana and Dustin.
I really don't think that two such moving and love-filled events could replace fishing. But I'm adding as Number 13, or is it 14, on my list to continue to accept all invitations for friendly get togethers when I retire. If you don't have nearby relatives, friends are just as good. Thank you friends, for inviting me to share your fun and friendship.
Tomorrow, back to work. But I will have such lovely memories of this weekend because of good friends.
Now, about that fishing, it turns out that I'm not the only one taking up fishing, if only for a few times. I learned that by being at the cookie exchange this afternoon.
