The Party--all Purple and Gold

The triumph of spiritual over secular, baroque over simplicity! After our 1940s party last Christmas, the bishopric wanted something with more of a Christmas message (wasn't recognizing the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 6 message enough?). Our theme this year was "King of Kings," with the cultural hall swathed in purple butcher paper covered with 100 gold foil stars cut out by David in trade for Gretta's services, and 100 pictures of Jesus from the ward library. The West High choral group sang carols, the Primary children sang carols (dressed as shepherds, angels, and Roman legionnaires), and we wandered amidst a display of creches from ward members' homes. (That's Catica Cole's little boy posing in front of his grandmother's creche.)

There was lots of good potluck food, served to lots of good people in their Christmas sweaters. The people were the best part of the party--Roger Young and Wynn Johnson in their red Christmas ties, Julie Monson with Marianne's little blond-haired boy, the Sandstrom daughter with "my two cousins," and Venice Rogers with the Brinton's son, enjoying a hug.

Gretta decided that making 300 chocolate covered cherries and wrapping them in gold and purple foil as table favors was a bit much, even for a lover of the baroque. David was relived when the party was over and he could return to his goal of simplicity in all things. In hindsight, the party was lots of fun.