The most beautifulest thing in this world

After months of planning, I along with several fabulous women, had the pleasure of hosting my BFK's baby shower this weekend. It was a rousing success replete with food, folks and lots of fun. I am an only child, and as such, have hoarded each and every relationship of meaning that I have entered into throughout my life. From grammar to grad school, with few exceptions, I have been blessed to maintain some form of contact with most of the friends that I have made at different points in my life. I also have developed many relationships with the family and other friends of the "primary friends", thereby adding to the list of folks that I know and love.

Okay, so where am i going with this? Well, as I floated around the room at the shower this past Saturday, I could not help but be moved by the overwhelming show of love and support displayed toward my BFK as she begins her new life as a mother. Like me, she was raised as an only child. Like me, she is a Libra and a hoarder of people and things and, like me-she has more people who know, love and care for her than she tends to realize at times. My BFK is a very giving person who, both professionally and personally, has touched the lives of countless people. People like her make you want to do nice things for them because they do so much good for the world and ask for so little in return.

So anywho.....the shower was wonderful. The turnout was great and my BFK received lots of gifts. Everyone on the shower "committee" came through, fulfilling their respective duties and we really worked well to make sure the event flowed nicely and that our guests were comfortable. There were folks who showed up at the shower, who were not even on the original committee, and just rolled their sleeves up and got right in the mix. De Facto and De Juro committee members were working their little hind parts off putting down table clothes, arranging flowers, fixing centerpieces, serving food, cutting cake, passing gifts, making announcements, collecting garbage, hosting games and correcting wayward children....all for the singular purpose of showering my BFK with love, attention and all kinds of good stuff as she prepares for one of the biggest and most wonderful life altering experiences she is likely to EVER face - becoming a mother.

Everything was done with such love and attention, such grace and style. Of particular note is my mom- who is a legendary caterer around these parts. Almost everyone of my friends and family who has had the pleasure of tasting my moms food, loves it. Well, my mother (Carol Anne) loves my BFK and was all too happy to put her foot in a bountiful buffet of tasty treats for the shower. My BFK's mom (Grand Nay-Nay) is no joke in the kitchen either and, despite being on the mend, served up a few of her signature salads for the affair. When black people are willing to pay you to cook for them, which both of these women have experienced, you know your vittles are on point.

Another shower highlight, and one of my personal favorites, were the floral arrangements (pictured above) courtesy of KI. KI, a De Juro committee member, volunteered to add a little beauty to our event. She was so into making just the right arrangements for my BFK's special day. Weeks before she was asking me about color themes, sending me idea boards and asking for my input on the direction we wanted to take with the floral arrangements. Working with KI made me feel grown up and official, like I was really planning an event as opposed to simply throwing my BFK a shower. An added bonus is that I absolutely love KI, her style, her energy, her everything. I wish her the best with her budding floral business and hope she knows that I was dead serious about our someday building a spaceship and flying away to create, create, create. I can see us now, floating around in our eco friendly, yet stylish, space ship conjuring up ideas to make the world a more beautiful place.

But again, I digress. Also pictured above are samples of the candy apple favors created by another committee member Shawn. I like to joke and call her Principal Grier, like the character played by Wendy Robinson from the Steve Harvey show because #1 she is a Principal and #2 she possesses all the sass, wit and many other highly atypical attributes of a school principal- my girl rocks a Mohawk and can break dance for starters. Additionally, she can make a mean candy apple~ as evidenced by the fact that the photo above is the only remaining clue that those apples ever even entered my house!

The aforementioned ladies are just a few examples of the talent, charisma and charm that was all up in the place yesterday. Ladies, ladies, ladies - I love and thank each and every one of you for your efforts.

But alas, I cannot forget the fellas, because this was a co-ed shower after all. How would we have lifted, moved and cleared out all the things that needed to be lifted, moved and cleared out without you? You all added a layer to the event that was much appreciated and you did it with so much damn style ~ as usual. I love each and every one of you for so many reasons, but primarily for your quiet strength and for always being there for us, when we have sense enough to ask and when we are too stubborn for our own good and don't.

Finally, to everyone who played a role in making KJ's day extra special- thank you, thank you, thank you. She loves you, Born loves you and God willing, little Z will grow to love you too. And simply put, that's a beautiful thing.

One, KC