Simone's 4th birthday party
Ah, yes. The birthday party is here again. Let's start cooking. Cook, cook, cook. Cook snacks, appetizer, main course, dessert. Make the drinks. Clean clean clean.
Or not. Let's get it catered instead and maybe, just maybe, we can enjoy the party!
So that's what we did. We also didn't go nuts over the decorations. I tried to drive myself nuts over the music but even that I managed to do easily.
So catered it was. And Simone got to invite a lot of her friends from school and playmate. So many worlds: Mom's Club, school, new friends, old friends. They all come together at Simone's birthday party. People introduce themselves with sentences like "We met at that other birthday party".
We decided to cater south Indian food, dosas and idlis. We figure everyone will like it, and they can vary the spice level easily.
The party starts with the caterers showing up late. A whole one hour late. Typical Indian caterers-if you hire one, you must build in a late arrival penalty clause. But no matter, everyone's appetites were just built up. Three guys showed up. Two Indians and one Latino. The Latino did all the work, the two Indians gabbed on their cellphones and collected the payment. Typical LA. Daddy started thinking that if this Internet thing goes South then $500 for 3 hours work is not a bad deal.
A small amount of vino was brought out a third way through the party, making the remaining two thirds just slide on by nice and easy. Some of the parents demanded a slug. One mom held the glass out until it was filled to the top of the rim. I think she has boys.
Rashmi had hired an entertainer to entertain the kids with Bollywood dancing. Excellent idea. She did a wonderful job, the kids were occupied for what seemed like the entire party. They danced, jumped and had a lot of fun. The boys and the girls, the toddlers and the older kids. Exactly what the adults wanted as they mingled and ate yummy food.
The theme for the party was Bollywood. Some of the girls came dressed in Bollywood outfits. Others were ready to party Bollywood style. Rashmi gave each girl a set of bangles as she came in. This wasn't a random handout-Rashmi had spent a good amount of time before the party figuring out which little girl would like which color. The girls also put on bindis and other decorations and looked like a million bucks. Or a billion rupees.
After a lot of eating, drinking and dancing, the cake came out. It was a beautiful cake from Porto's. Rashmi had gone the week before and given very specific directions on how it was to be made, from the inside, to the icing, to the decoration. Everyone loved it so much. I wanted a second helping but it was all gone. Foreshadowing perhaps?
The party turned out great. The weather cooperated- it was a perfect Los Angeles summer afternoon, not too hot, not too cold. Simone had a great time with her friends. This was her last party as a baby I think-or a toddler, or any other term that denotes complete innocence. She is now a child, she asks difficult questions, makes jokes, and has serious conversations. The passage of time has brought forth a wonderful little Simone. I remember all her birthdays vividly, and what stands out to me is the joy that she brings to my life. I love you Simone! I look forward to celebrating each future birthday with greater and greater fanfare.
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