Last December, our holiday shindig occurred in the ideal pandemic window. COVID’s Delta variant was receding, and Omicron hadn’t made its prompt appearance yet. In that little outbreak break, we gathered with friends for another cheeky tribute to the festive season.

For this event, Jason and I ordered dinner from Bombay House supplemented by some delicious pastries from Gourmandise. There was a mix up at Bombay House, mostly due to a customer’s dishonesty. The outcome was that Jason C. got Jason S.’ big order, and our food was an hour late. Jason C., you are in trouble mister!

As always, excellent food was just one layer of the revelries at our bash. The other layers weren’t yummy like buttercream and Swiss meringue but icky like embarrassing outfits and outlandish white elephants. A couple of the more creative white elephant gifts this time included a paper bag filled with a stack of fake cash and one hidden real $100 bill and a tiny bag stuffed with a fish ornament that came with a hidden fish/fish tank combo. I’d like to think my unicorn gift pack with “Feeling horny?” inked across the top was also hilarious, but “Feeling corny?” might have been more fitting.

Everyone seemed thrilled to catch up with friends in person in an indoor space, but many were still nervous after a fall packed with COVID hospitalizations and deaths. Jason came down with a cold the evening before, and we quickly got him tested for COVID. Despite his negative result, he wore a mask most of the night to make others feel more comfortable. That was the phase we were all in. Yet, the familiar, latent apprehension did not decrease the liveliness or volume of those assembled. Hallelujah for that party amidst that pandemic pause!