Some Circle of Hell, surely...

I attended a Bridal shower yesterday that felt, at times, like a very realistic but nonetheless terrifying nightmare. Some social situations are almost too awkward to bear.

The day before was the Christening, and I swear I had to DRAG Aaron to it, and once there it was worse than I had expected. SOOOO many strangers, not a ton of people from my side of the family. Then the space was gorgeous but ultimately not very comfortable or user-friendly, and the service staff was decidedly (in the words of my husband) "surly and unhelpful".

I'm glad we ate some Mama Celeste pizzas before we went too because the food was not sure vegetarian friendly. I ate some salad, some rice (which, lets face it, was probably made with chicken broth), a few fries and a roll. Aaron also tried in vain to order hard liquor but it was a beer & wine only situation and being Boston the beer was ridiculously overpriced. "How do they expect us to tolerate these gathering without proper booze?" Aaron queried sourly with his Bud Light in hand.

But the Bridal shower I had to brave alone, no boys allowed. Of course I did make him wrap the gift-- he has such a talent for lovely and creative wrapping!

SO I get there and try not to go in a MINUTE before the start time, but alas, I was rather unfashionably one of the first ones in there. I took a look around, knew only the maid of honor (who was understandably a bit preoccupied) and the Bride's parents- who are big BHS Drama Club supporters. I made my 'hello' s to those three, smiled at all the ladies I did not know, and made a very deliberate bee-line for the bar.

To my enormous relief and delight this bar was serving hard liquor- even though it was sunday at 11 AM. AMEN and Haleluia. I started with a mudslide and promised the nice lady I'd be back.

With mudslide in hand (and a few long sips in,) who should walk in but my HS Drama teacher, costume lady and boss from the HS. A tri-fecta of awkward. Naturally I hugged and kissed and smiled, but all I could think was: "How could I be so stupid?!?!"

It felt like I'd walked into a trap! It hadn't occurred to me that they might be there, I had been so preoccupied with thinking about all the girls from HS that I'd have to shmooze with and all the old ladies I wouldn't know, that it just slipped my mind that these three would very likely be in attendance.

My Drama Teacher couldn't help herself-- her eyes kept going to my drink. I could almost hear her thinking: "Before noon????"

It didn't take long to suck down that mudslide and I was back at the bar. In typical Beth Fashion I was honest with the bartender.

"My High school Drama Teacher is here, so I'm gunna need something with vodka..."

She was the best bartender. I walked away with a very strong white russian, and had a seat saved for me at their table.

It was a nice bridal shower, not as fun or romantic as the one I threw for Danielle, but classy and efficient. Mostly I just wanted to get out of there- or better yet, to never have made the decision to go.

Anyway, I survived, had a few laughs (thanks vodka! *thumbs up*), kissed the pride, ate the cake and got the fuck outta Dodge.

Now on to planning D's Baby Shower! So Fun! And one bonus about showers and events that I plan? Aaron gets to be in attendance! Wheee! Plus he gets to be a bit of a slave in the weeks leading up; making food, decorations, invitations, etc., I married quite a catch!