This is a crazy story about a crazy bunch of people who have this crazy party every year.
This party started (we think) 44 years ago with seven couples who all went to church together.
This is Barry - our attorney - (this photo is old) with John. Barry graduated back long ago from Law School and passed the Bar. We were having this Christmas party and everyone brought a White Elephant gift - you know the routine.
Well, Barry had received a bottle of very expensive tanning cream for a graduation gift. It was called Bronzer. He brought the Bronzer to the party as his gift.
Everyone arrives and puts their gift in a black bag on the front porch - so no one can tell who brought what. Then, they are all displayed and one by one you pick your choice. Now, in White Elephant gift exchange, you can take someone else's gift but the third taker is the owner.
To make a long story longer, the Bronzer became the main White Elephant gift and has been making the rounds for approximately 44 years. Whoever ends up with the Bronzer hosts the party the next year.
The Bronzer has varied thru the ages. It is quite a feat to see how you can magically bring a gift that no one could possible imagine the Bronzer was in. John and I hosted the party for many years and then we started the tradition of wherever the Bronzer went was the host for the next year.
One year someone put the Bronzer in a jar of peanut butter and it came with a package of peanut butter cookies. Great idea - however, the next year as we prepared for the party and pulled the Bronzer out - it had destroyed the plastic bottle and had just dissengrated in the jar. So, we had to start with a new "Bronzer" that we found at a local junk store.
As you can see, there are some really "white elephant gifts". Some reappear and some are never seen again.
The fun part of this party is the fact that these seven couples are all the same, original couples we started out with. We are all still together with the original mate. Amazing, isn't it?
As of this year (I did not attend as it was just too soon after John's passing) we have lost two of the men.
But, the tradition continues.
Enjoy!
Judy
I love this story, Judy. What a wonderful tradition with your friends. My thoughts and prayers are with you this year. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute idea and it's nice that you have the photos to look back at. We all have some good times that make good stories! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely wonderful story and tradition, Judy! I pray you will be able to attend next year with sweet and precious memories of your dear John!! Thank you for sharing these photos and the story! Blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such a nice tradition to look forward to. Looks like fun! Hope you're doing well. XO
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like wonderful fun! I'm sorry you've lost two men, and one John.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Oh, this sounds like a great party and it's just amazing it has lasted this long! The traveling bronzer is a hoot and especially since it just fell apart! I hope you're doing well and you're in my prayers. Thanks so much for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Judy, what a wonderful story. Friends who gather together all these years and share fun and fellowship. I know it was too soon this year but I hope you will return next year and enjoy once again this fun tradition.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
What a wonderful story of all the lovely couples together for so many years and the funny parts about the bronzer. Maybe one day you'll feel like joining these couples again, or then again, maybe you won't. You can only go by how you feel every year. There is no wrong or right with this type of thing. Blessings to you. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI just smiled through this entire story. What great memories from such a terrific group of people! Kids aren't the only ones entitled to goofy fun at Christmas, you know! Someday this party will reunite in heaven with everyone in attendance - forever!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this party tradition with us.. Great memories are always created by traditions and it seems like a really great group of people. You will know when you are ready to join back in, take care of yourself, be kind and it will take time to heal.
ReplyDeleteHow fun!! And you are right, you all must have set some kind of Guiness World Record!!
ReplyDeleteThe bronzer destroyed the bottle? Oh that's a little creepy!
ReplyDeleteWe play this game in our family too. Now don't take this wrong but the gift that reappears year after year is an ugly set of praying hands. You remember...they came from Stuckey's or a gas station somewhere along the line. Anyway, we get a good laugh.
Actually, the peanut butter in the jar melted the bronzer bottle which was plastic! Scary for sure. We just dug and dug and all we found was the paper wrapping.????
DeleteWhat a fun group. So sorry that this holiday will be hard for you. Just know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteSorry you weren't able to attend, but I totally understand how difficult it would be.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun party and how sweet that you have all kept this tradition going. Looks like a great group of wonderful friends. Hope this time next year you will be able to join in the tradition. This year will be a hard Christmas for you without John. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you transition to a new journey in your life.
Kris
I love it!! How special to have friends like that!
ReplyDeleteOh Judy it sounds like such great fun with such great people. I can understand how it would be difficult to attend this year.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you,
Meredith
What a fun thing to do, and a great idea!! Yes, I understand too, that it would be very difficult for you to attend this year. You are in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI am sure this is a bittersweet post for you, Judy. Great fun memories and now sadness as life has put some forks in the path for some of you. It is amazing that it is the same couples and that there were no divorces. It speaks well of the faithfulness of all of you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Judy.
We have a white elephant exchange in a party here, too. The "pass it every year prize" is a statue of a scary looking gynecologist holding up a baby. LOL. Our rule is that whoever gets it has to display it IN their home in PLAIN sight for the year until they can "dump" it the next year. lol Memories.............Glad you have such good ones, Judy. xo Diana
What a wonderful party that you all are still together. I know this will be hard for you this year with the passing of John, but you have wonderful memories of this party in the past. Wow all of you are still together after 44 years with the exception of loosing a few members. This speaks so well of all your friends faithfulness. God bless your Judy.
ReplyDeleteMary
Hi Judy, this sounds like such a fun party with a great group of friends for so many years and still all together. I've attended white elephant parties and they are crazy fun but yours is special.
ReplyDeleteWishing you love and comfort as you remember these special memories.
Christmas Hugs!
I love that party game. Such a wonderful group to be friends with over the years. I know they are all missing your friend and John.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteMe ha encantado tu post, tienes cosas muy interesantes, felicidades por tu bloc. Te invito a visitar el mio, esta semana ponemos espíritu navideño en el exterior, espero que te guste. Ah! Si no eres seguidora deseo que te hagas, gracias por visitarme.Te espero en elracodeldetall.blogspot.com
Wonderful memories and a wonderful story! I hope that you will be back with your friends celebrating and having goofy gifts again next year, they will be glad to see you enjoying the tradition I am sure. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat fun Judy..44 years..that is amazing..what is most wonderful is that all of these couples stayed together..as it should be..Hugs
ReplyDelete