☆paging doctor gorgeous☆

Today, two of my good friends, J and T (we have known one another since high school and are still close, so they're definitely good eggs) who are married, by the way, threw a Christmas party. They set things up on Facebook and invited people and organized a list for potluck dishes months ago, and this whole time I was noncommittal as to whether or not I would attend. I had gifts for them and their little boy, though, so when they asked me again a few days ago I said that while I wasn't really in the mind space to attend a party, I wanted to come see them and bring them their presents.

So, the party was set to begin at 4:30, and I showed up at 2:00. They were running late, stressed out, snipping at one another a little and trying to get their young son put together so they could bundle him off to his auntie's house for the night. T took her boy to her sister's house and picked up some extra items at the grocery store, and I stayed with J to help him decorate the living room, get tables and chairs up, finish cooking food and set snacks out. All that interactive busy work was actually really fun for me, even though to him they were stressful chores. I really enjoyed helping set the party up, even though I wouldn't be attending.

T made me promise not to leave until she got back, but in this way, I think they tricked me into attending their party haha. She was gone a while, and tons of guests had already arrived by then and were mingling and grazing on snacks. Another high school friend of ours, W, showed up, which was super nice. I sat on the couch and caught up with her for a bit, and ended up staying for awhile until dinner was served. It was only at that point that I made my exit, but by then I had stayed for a couple of hours and honestly it was pretty nice even though I didn't know any of the other guests.

I wish I were better about mingling with new people, but I just did not have the mental or emotional bandwidth to try and make small talk with people I don't know. Still, it was nice to see my friends, and to be surrounded by a spot of holiday cheer. I mean, dude, they had a train that circled the main table with tiny muffins on little dishes on all the train cars. There were plastic glittery snowflakes and candles hanging from the ceiling. And their tree, every single year, is space themed. I've been going to their Christmas parties for years and it's always a cozy atmosphere, so I am glad I went today.