Our ladies nights and various birthday celebrations have been getting more and more elaborate lately. It started with a night out, some friends and food, a drink or two and perhaps a chance to dress up a bit. Soon we were celebrating birthdays with beautiful gifts and designer cakes (nothing wrong with that Dina) but after a string of fancy events, it was all seeming like a bit of a stretch, so to speak. Melissa decides to bring us back down to earth in the best way possible.
“It just isn’t May’s style”, Melissa points out. And so we receive our next lot of instructions. We are to bring a plate to share and come dressed ‘in bad taste’.
I’m looking forward to a relaxed night and dig out my oldest YMCA t-shirt and try to think what I might be able to mismatch it with. Turns out the other ladies are a little more imaginative than I am.
Sura, Nour and Rawan pick me up. They are looking very eye-catching, it’s not until we get out of the car that I see the full extent of the transformations. We need to be there by 8:30pm and receive strict instructions as to where we can and cannot park to avoid suspicion. There were a couple of near misses during the week when the secret nearly slipped out. Thankfully tonight there are numerous text messages as we mill around in our worst taste waiting for Aunty May to arrive. Ivy and Sophia are on hand and well versed to ensure that Aunty May is lead innocently to the back yard for the surprise.
The terrace and pool area is decorated beautifully. The guest’s dress is the only thing here that is in bad taste, it would seem. Bunches of balloons are decorate the pool and sitting area, stationed around perfectly. The table is already laid with food and drinks that have been brought to share and Dina’s outdoor furniture has been brought in to complement the already comfortable outdoor setting and give the whole place a party vibe. The candles float on the pool and make the scene come together. It’s all very grown up.
The outfits are another thing entirely. Dina has a fabulously 80’s gold skirt on, I have no idea where she might have found the handbag. Heidi couldn’t look either more cute or crazy in anything and Rawan has gone to town with the freckles! Not to mention the mismatched socks complete with sandals look. Classy. Nour is channeling her inner rockstar. She somehow manages to rock the clashing stripes, gingham and leopard print. Sura is just like the girl next door, except with a very special pair of leggings. As each new guest arrives there are fits of renewed giggles. And that is even before the guest of honor arrives.
“Surprise!!!” we all yell, slightly belatedly. May has arrived through the side gate when we are all expecting her to have come in the front door and appear through the sun room. Still, it has the desired effect. She is surprised, perhaps a little shocked. It seems we have caught her completely off guard. Given the looks of her best friends surrounding her (transformed by our own bad taste) it is perhaps understandable that she is a little astounded.
May is given her own bad taste makeover for the occasion and the dinner and dancing begin.
These ladies have all outdone themselves again. Melissa is a perfect host, everyone has brought something and contributed in some way to the delicious spread of food on the side board. We help ourselves to the selection and the music and dancing comes naturally. Despite our appearances, perhaps in spite of them, we are all once again having fun. Everyone lets their hair down and I have never met such a group of fun loving ladies.
There is more food and dancing, cake, photos, laughter, amusement and enjoyment. There is no pretentiousness here. No one is judgmental, nasty or hostile. Just more fits of laughter, a bit of shisha and a whole lot of fun. The fact that we can make so much merriment with something like this makes me wonder again…
…what is next for us?
And somehow, once again, this celebration has brought us all even closer together.
Would I Return?
Yes. Just don’t ask me to return to the bottom of my closet again!