Baby Shower
 |
| Bethany and me |
Last Saturday was my best friend Bethany's baby shower.
The baby shower is a custom, or a convenient arrangement actually,
whereby the mother and father to be can share their impending joy
with all their friends at once, and receive many of the costly items
they will need for their baby at the same time. Bethany wasn't originally
going to have a baby shower, but the parents of Saul's best friend
insisted and put together a lovely gathering for all of us.
It was called for 1pm, and the forecast was for grey skies and rain.
It took me about forty-five minutes to get to their Pacific Palisades
home, way out near the coast above Santa Monica. But by the time I
got there, the skies had started to clear and the sun was even deigning
to showers its rays on us here and there.
The Iverson's have a beautiful, sprawling house. They were the people
who hosted Bethany and Saul's engagement party back in June, the same
week I threw Bethany's bachelorette party. I remember back then being
very impressed with their elegant, yet comfortable home, and even
though it is almost ten months later and I have seen dozens and dozens
of other houses since then, I was just as impressed this time.
I, of course, was amongst the first to arrive. I came in carrying
my rather poorly-wrapped present of a mommy backpack -- the store
had run out of wrapping and I was forced to do it myself! The presents
were piled up on or around the piano, and I added mine to the collection.
Just then, Bethany, Saul, Mark (the photographer) and his girlfriend
Anabelle came to the front door.
Within ten minutes or so, the party was in full swing. Mrs. Iverson
had made a beautiful buffet lunch spread for all of us, with salads
and breads and goodies. We all helped ourselves and then retired with
our friends to the area of the house that seemed most inviting to
us. For me, Bethany, and the Iversons themselves, that was the area
by the pool.
Although the forecast had definitely said rain, by the time lunch
was served it had turned into a most lovely southern California day!
So we all took our meals and took a seat by the swimming pool out
back. Bethany made herself comfortable in a big lounge chair, and
we enjoyed a great lunch in the sun.
Then, after dessert, we all moved inside to the living room where
the official present-opening ceremony was to begin. Well, I guess
it's not officially a "ceremony" per se, but it sure seemed like one!
First, after mother and father to be had taken the throne on the couch,
and all of the guests had gathered humbly at their feet, we brought
the presents over to the coffee table. One person was in charge of
throwing away the trash; another had the distinct honor of writing
down all of the contents of the boxes and who they were from, so that
Bethany could write thank-you notes at a later date; yet another was
in charge of taking pictures of each present being opened (that was
Mark the photographer, of course!).
Bethany opened my present first, and seemed to really
like what I had so carefully picked out for her. Then, she got huge
stuffed animals, lots and lots of baby clothes from Baby Gap (a store
of which I know I will become a regular customer in the coming months),
and a baby swing and other utilitarian items.
Both Bethany and Saul seemed to enjoy the party, as did their guests.
After the present opening, I asked Mark to take a picture of the two
of us (see pic) to commemorate the occasion. After all, this was the
first baby shower I had ever been to!!!
In Los Angeles,
Cara Jones
|
