Birthday party in Bim

We met Vicky and Colin and their two beautiful children at Blossoms Nursery School and took an instant liking to them.  They are professional people, articulate, funny, and kind and I had a soft spot for their daughter, Eden, who was a classmate of Lily's.  When I discovered that their birthdays were both in July, I suggested a joint birthday party.  I really wanted to get to know them as a couple and thought it also might be nice to navigate the world of kids' parties in Barbados with someone else!  My parents were corralled into visiting and celebrating with us and we invited all of the students in Lily and Eden's class, as well as their parents and siblings.


Getting up early to prep the house, pool, and garden, Didier, my parents, and I all had tasks on a list to tick off and accomplish before party time. Didier and my dad started off cleaning tables and chairs and fortifying the fence around the pool.  Sweeping and mopping three patios, removing all riding toys, setting up pool toys, prepping the barbecue, guesthouse toilets, pinata, goodie/loot bags all had to be done while still entertaining Lily and Virginie.  My mother even cleaned some tables that I do not think had seen soap and water for years!  I had hoped that both girls would take a nap before the big event, but only Virginie was coaxed to sleep with a little nursing and mood lighting and music.  Lily was too excited.

Vicki, Colin, and Eden arrived before the party to finalize the details and set up the drinks table, games, and music.  We'd set aside a special table for the face painter and lined up chairs under all the patio awnings so that the adults could socialize and eat while others swam and played.  I guess you just never know how these things are going to turn out and I must say, I knew that people would more than likely come later than the invitation time stated, but I was not prepared for just how late!  The face painter was scheduled for three o'clock and at that time, only one other guest besides the two party girls was there!  Nerves were a bit rattled and I wondered if perhaps I had made a big mistake insisting on a party.  To make matters worse, as Didier began preparing the barbecue, it began to rain.  First a light pattering and then a real pour!  Always the professional, Le Chef propped the face painter's plastic table over the food and prevented it from getting wet.

The rain subsided and just like that, guests began to arrive.  Children and parents from Blossoms Nursery School funneled out back in the garden and started chatting and swimming and dancing.  Food was put out on the tables and all raved about Didier's cooking.  Even on the grill he is a star.  Virginie got her face painted first and when they saw her little face covered in orange flowers, the other kids jumped out of the pool to line up.  Even the adults got into it and had butterflies, pirate faces, and flowers painted on too.  My father, former executive and serious individual sat for a lion's visage to be painted on his face.  He looked like the Barbados touring show of CATS.  It was awesome.

Pin the Star on the Princess followed by a thousand whacks at the pinata until the candy burst out of the bottom with a little pull of the streamer, followed the cannonball contest in the pool by the dads.  The two head teachers from the school, called Aunties, showed up and got all the kids excited.  Calls of "Look at me, Auntie!  Look at me!" rang out all over the garden.  After all the faces had been painted, some twice over, and the swimmers had left the pool, and the swing set had been abandoned, everyone toweled off and gathered round the patio for a singing of Happy Birthday to the two little birthday girls. 

For one of the first times since we have been in Barbados, I felt like I was part of a community.  I was comforted by these people, parents whose children play with my little girl, who are decent and intelligent and nice and open, who were happy to share in this milestone with my family.  I felt like Barbados was home and I smiled a whole lot that day.  I think my husband, my parents and my girls were happy to see it.  A nice birthday present for Lily and a glimpse of the old me for Didier.  It was a happy birthday.


(c) copyright 2010. Citymominthejungle