Yesterday was my new sister-in-law's bridal shower. All of the W.I. ladies hosted it at the Little Red Deer School House, our community hall, where my Dad and his sisters went to school until Grade Nine. All the ladies of the community were there from about age 40 onwards - about 20 women. (The men were all at home watching the Grey Cup.) It was so nice, so warm, so welcoming, especially considering that no one knew Michele - she's marrying in. But because she's marrying Barb T and Johnny's son, then she gets a shower. I was surprised that there were lots of gifts from people who weren't able to attend - really nice, thoughtful gifts. The hostess said that it was a sign that our familly was well thought of. That means that we've (my parents, my aunts, grandparents, cousins) been here for a long time, and have memories and connections with people.
Really it's a tribute to my Mom, because when they went around the circle to introduce themselves, many of the women said they'd never actually met Warren or Michele, but went on to say how much they'd treasured my Mom's friendship, or that my Dad was responsible for them meeting their husband (through school, not through matchmaking) or that they'd always enjoyed curling with my parents. Some of the people knew us too, people with kids who'd babysat us or had kids that played with us or had kids we used to babysit. And there were even gifts from other people that didn't really know my parents either, but they'd moved out here to an acreage, or were living in a trailer on some neighbour's farm, and it's almost like a requirement of moving here. If you live here, you need to send shower, baby and housewarming gifts, send your kids to the Hallowe'en and Christmas parties, go for walks and pick up litter, send pies to the fundraisers. If you can't manage it, then you should probably stay in town.
It was fun. Barb S read poems about how to have a happy marriage, Elna E introduced Michele to everyone by telling little stories about her. Shelly B walked around with a tray of kitchen utensils we all had to memorise. We played Bridal Gift Bingo, writing down all the gifts in our squares, and if Michele opened one of them you crossed it off.
Of course, someone else had given her the exact same lime-green cheese and snack tray that I'd spent all afternoon deliberating over - the one with little stick-figure reindeer running across it. I was trying to be original and not get her something off her list. That's what happens when everyone shops \ in town.
Michele opened a gorgeous set of tall thick-glass hi-ball tumblers with coloured rims. We were astonished - not one set of 4, not two, but four boxes of four! Of course, it would have to be Dorothy (my oldest friend's mother) - she loves a party. 'Whoever has just eight people for dinner? she said. 'I always get everything in sets of 24.' It's true really. My Mom never has less than 12 people for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and usually it's more like 18.
I suppose it's very tacky of me to talk about people's gifts, but i just thought everyone brought such sensible and beautiful things. And it didn't really matter that people didn't know Michele, or Warren, or even me and Valerie, because really everyone had come for the sake of a party, to chat with all the old friends they'd been waving at on the road for the last 10 years and not gotten around to visiting.
Sigh. It's all very twee and heartwarming but I like it.
(Oooh, and if Jennifer Lucy is reading this, they served matrimonial squares, cheese and raisin bread, nanaimo bars and brownies. Some people thought it was a shame that no one had thought to bring cut vegetables though. And instead of cards, everyone was supposed to write their favourite recipe out on a card and write a message for the bride on the back. They also gave her this year's edition of the Little Red Deer Dorcas WI cookbook, which everyone had to write some advice in.)
