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| Beavo Does a Smile-o |
I won’t lie, I had my reservations when the Boss and Norman
said let’s throw a bridal shower/bachelorette party for Bandit during RAGBRAI.
Do we really need more attention? Do we really want Team Beaver to be that
team? I’ve rolled my eyes at some of those groups in the past. To say I was
resistant is being nice. It also could have been the stressful last semester of
my Master’s degree talking. The Boss checked in with Too Much and he was crazy about
the idea! And so it was…
As the planning started taking shape, I found myself
consulting on elements of a bridal shower and bachelorette combination,
carrying (most) everything on our bikes, mostly the Boss’. We wanted the
tasteful elements of a bridal shower you’d invite your lady friends, mother,
and grandmother to in the morning. And a raucous bachelorette party you’d be
embarrassed to have your mom at in the afternoon.
A sash and socks were purchased for Bandit to wear
throughout the day. Special Team Bride glasses, champagne cups, and tattoos
were procured. A plan was in the works to stash Jell-O shots and whipped cream
at Pochy’s Mom’s place in one of the pass through towns. Other fun elements
that seemed unnecessary, but hilariously appropriate were also purchased, much
to my own and the Mayor’s chagrin. If we were going to do this, we were going
to go all out, as a proper Team Beaver celebration would be.
In the week prior to RAGBRAI while I was waiting for my
thesis to be approved by my advisor, I used my newly found free time to put
together a few bridal shower and bachelorette party elements. Never have I ever
dreamed of making a custom bridal shower invitation. Or recreating a Pinterest
bridal shower game or two, and one fun craft for the bachelorette party (which
we didn’t even use!!!) I printed, cut out, and laminated games. I also tracked
down 20 golf pencils so we could play our games along the way.
As the final plans for this celebration came together, the
Boss and I scoured the route in the Google Maps Satellite mode to find where we
would set up our surprise party. I even offered to be the sneaky Beaver who
would help ride out to the spot with the Boss. I don’t think my legs have ever
gotten so warmed up so quickly on a RAGBRAI morning as they did that day.
Sprinting out a few miles so we could be ready was quite a bit of work. It was
worth it. I’m happy I surrendered to my Beavos who had these harebrained ideas.
I did it for Bandit, and Too Much. My crazy Beavers care so much about each
other that they are willing to go all out, as I would discover later in our
week of secrets.
Needless to say, I think #BubblesAndBeavers and
#MrsTooMuchJohnson was a day to be remembered.
I didn’t realize you had concerns about being a team that attracts attention.
ReplyDeleteI do. We get so much of it. I didn’t think we needed to be crazier. It’s like the Me-Offs swinging over peoples’ heads to me. I’m the worst elements of introvert and extrovert. I love being the center of attention but not when I know I have everyone’s attention. We’re fun and I was scared that if we were doing a bachelorette party we were just looking thirsty.
DeleteAll said and done, the bridal shower/bachelorette party was a blast!!
DeleteTHIS WAS THE MOST PERFECT THING TO EVER HAPPEN. I can’t believe how much thought and care went into planning this surprise — I truly had no idea and feel incredibly lucky to have friendos like the beavos
ReplyDelete