Party

What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2011? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, and shenanigans.

For some reason, I struggle with writing about parties.  All of my big 2011 parties were, well, bittersweet.  The three big parties that stand out in 2011 were:

• My goodbye party at my former job
• My father’s 70th birthday party
• The tailgate party at  The Game - the Yale-Harvard football game

All were big, (mostly) fun parties.

However, it was the smaller more private and personal parties that I remember more joyfully:

• The “Welcome" cupcake party hosted by my new co-workers my first week of work
• The night out with a best friend I hadn’t seen in six months
• A picnic in the back yard with my parents
• Many cozy dinners with K

These small parties were all simple moments in time, no expectations, no stress.  Given the upheaval of 2011, I wasn’t interested in having my socks rocked off, or in any wild shenanigans.  Some good food and some quality time with people I cared about was all I was looking for.