Shower #2

If shower #1 was lovely, shower #2 (co-ed, planned and attended by friends only, no family) was downright cool. The gifts were decidedly hipper (see above), the banter much wittier (even without my deaf, senile great aunt in attendance), and the energy more youthful, celebratory, and ribald. I even broke out my fishnet stockings for the occasion. There were three other pregnant women in attendance, as well as some cute little peanuts. Trust me: you haven't lived until you've heard a two and a half year old stand in the middle of your kitchen and sing Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire."

It was funny, though -- a few times during the afternoon I was struck with the sensation that the grownups had gone out and left the kids (A. and I and all of the guests, that is) without a babysitter. Not because we drew on the walls or swung from the chandeliers or anything. In fact, there are no chandeliers in our house. But because there we were, with our friends ranging in age from their early thirties to early forties, celebrating this huge, imminent thing completely on our own. No real grown-ups there to smile knowingly and dole out motherly advice. Of course, there were a few moms there, but young ones with small children, still in the thick of things. Quite a different presence from that of the aunties and grandmas and other matriarchal types at Shower #1.

I'm very glad to have had both kinds of showers -- the lovely and the cool. Seems like it's a good reflection of the kind of help and support one wants and needs going into parenthood: wise, old relatives to make you feel safe and secure and part of a generational continuum; and friends closer to your own age and stage in life who can keep you laughing and feeling like yourself.

Many thanks to the two ladies (both frequent blog readers) who put yesterday's coolness together. You rock.