Six Again

Oh. My. Gosh. My friend threw the yummiest birthday party for her daughter last Saturday. I'm not even going to waste time setting it up for you. I'm just going to go right into it.

We got there, we being my boyfriend and I, after an hour drive. My friend Maria lives in the desert close to another good buddy of mine. I don't know what it was about the Coachella Valley that produced best friends for me in college but then took them right back after we graduated. The good thing is that the trip is very relaxing for me so I'm happy to travel out there when ever possible, with or without an invitation.

Anyway, as I was saying, we arrived around three in the afternoon and the first thing I noticed were the beautiful center pieces sitting atop, yes, atop, the tables. I thought, Whoa, Maria went all out for this one. A stuffed penguin in a winter coat sat on top of a vase filled with chocolates. Upon seeing my admiration, Maria's husband pointed out the maker of such creations sitting with her family against the house. 

"She made them," he said, "just so you know for when you're ready."

It might be a decade before I request the ladies' services for my own child's birthday party since I don't have any. That didn't stop me from thinking of a future date that would be worthy of such extravagances, though. 

A little girl asked me if this one was mine and I said yes, although the other guest at the table and I were going to rock, paper, scissors for it. Unfortunately, it disappeared after we went to the bathroom.

Since Leo and I didn't stop at Chili's before heading out, we were starving. And we weren't embarrassed to communicate this to Maria's husband. We put our stuff down at the table that was sure to relish in the sun until it went down. Then I grabbed a bowl-shaped Styrofoam plate that Maria's husband voluntarily filled up for me with posole because he didn't want me to burn myself (what a gentleman). That was my pre-appetizer. There was so much food and my goal was to have some of everything. Then came time for the appetizer. Since Leo was about to grab nachos, I told him to fill up because I was going to have me some too. It was then that I had enough fuel to get me through the main event: a pair of homemade chicken tamales. I admire Maria so much as a teacher, as a wife, and as a mother. But she blows my mind when it comes to her culinary skills. My own mother doesn't know how to make tamales yet here is a young woman who slaves away in her kitchen making posole and tamales on the same day for her family and friends. You're the real-life Super Woman, friend!

Love you, amiga! You don't know know how much I appreciate your friendship all year long, between visits and calls. 

You can bet that I was ready for desert after my three-course meal but it was too early to cut the cake. I seriously considered yanking the penguin from the vase and grabbing a chocolate but I knew I'd never be able to return it to its original state. Instead, I stood up and followed Maria to the craft's table when I saw her come out of the house with her face painting supplies in tow. I sat next to her and a little girl tried fighting me for the chair. I was willing to relinquish my seat but Maria told her I had to go first because I was her best friend. I attempted to console the child further by stating that Maria was going to refine her skills on me so the painting would be perfect on her. The kid didn' believe me, though, since she gave me the same look I give my students when I don't trust them.

Other creations on the premises: Santa Claus and a reindeer. I walked into Sears inside a mall like this, and the movies, afterward. I have no shame.

After I was done modeling for Maria's face painting portfolio, I grabbed a small plastic bag off the table. It had all kinds of spongy pieces for a winter picture frame. I made sure there were enough baggies for the real kids before snatching one and retraced my steps to my table. The frame had instructions but I didn't want to put the bird's nest on the snow man's carrot nose. I thought it was more plausible for birds to make a nest on the snow man's hat. I finished my creation with the intention of giving it to my mother for Christmas. Very daughter-like of me, I know.

My family better take good pictures this Christmas or else this frame is worthless. 

And what is a birthday party without a piñata? Just an adult gathering, that's what. Maria's husband always pulls the most dangerous stunts for his kid's fiestas. Maria's friend reminded me of the time he stood on a brick wall just to hold up the Mexican party staple.

"I didn't want to look," the friend admitted to me.

Leo even got to experience some of the piñata pain last year when he held the rope with his bare hands in the drizzly cold weather while standing on a ladder. He was developing blisters before someone handed him utility gloves to get him through the rest of the game.

This year introduced a new challenge. Since the party was in the front yard, Maria's husband's only choice was to stand on his father's minivan and hold the piñata from there. Again, Maria's friend was afraid to sneak a peek, fearing a slip and fall of sorts. But she had a good suggestion for our friend: to put together a photo album based on all the crazy places and positions he takes year after year holding the piñata. I added that this memory keeper should be given to the birthday girl on the day of her wedding. Just a suggestion....

Proud papa up there. That's not the birthday girl. Leo taking watch. 

Maria passed goody bags filled with some candy and personalized pencils with the birthday girl's name engraved in them to all the children while they waited in line. She thought they were too big but came in handy for stuffing the sweets that fell from the broken cardboard holiday star.

Since the night encroaches rapidly during this time of the year, the piñata was immediately followed by cake. We gathered around two bundt cakes when Maria received a phone call from her lost cousin. As she gave him directions to her house, her husband positioned the candles on the cakes and lit them. While we waited for Maria to hang up, we noticed that the candles were burning at a rapid speed. Maria saw and pointed at them, then laughed as she finished up the call. By the time all the stars had aligned to sing her little girl Happy 6th Birthday, only half of the candles were left.

Who cares if there's wax on the cake; all the more flavorful!

Because it was close to near freezing temperatures, Maria invited us inside her house. Her brother-in-law walked by with a delicious looking hot dog and Leo and I turned to each other. We both craved it, especially since a couple of hours had passed since we'd eaten, with the exception of a piece of cake. When the brother-in-law came in a second time asking if anyone wanted his creation, Leo seized it. It had mustard, ketchup, relish, and nacho cheese. In the meantime, Maria's mother graciously handed me a cup of hot chocolate. Leo finished his hot dog while I sat blowing into my chocolate hoping it would cool fast so I could take a sip. To kill time, I asked Leo to get me a hot dog without condiments except for mustard. And with that post-desert desert, Leo and I reached the Full mark in our tanks.

With no more food to taste and no place for it to go, Leo and I decided it was time to go. We stood up, thanked our hostess for such a lovely, yummy time, but she wasn't finished with the surprises. Maria handed me a bracelet, yet another party favor, she had reserved for all the little girls. Then she ran into one of the rooms and came back with my Christmas present. Maria could've said, Thanks for coming, have a safe trip home, from the comfort of her house but she didn't. Leaving her sweater behind, she walked Leo and me out to my car and repeated how much it meant for her that we went.

I hope everyone is as lucky as I am to have such a caring, thoughtful, selfless, and funny human being in their lives. For eight years, Maria has been my friend, sister, mother, counselor, confidant, and personal comedian. Around her, I don't only eat like I'm six again but I giggle like one too.