John has the ten of diamonds.
To look forward to an event, literally all year, and have it entirely live up to those expectations is an incredible feat. And it does happen, every single year.
Christmas Caroling Party at Ashley's.
I get to see more friends in one place at one time than I have all year, friends that would normally gather together all the time, and it goes so damn well. It's a fucking blast. I never laugh harder and more joyously than I do during this night. Closest would be Ashley's 4th of July barbecue. I shorthand by saying "Ashley's" when, of course, it's her family that host us and put on these events, and it's always a wonderful time. Unfailingly, reliably, memorably wonderful. I don't know how else such a feat is accomplished other than the fact that it's filled with friends I've known, hell, more than half of my life.
John came with his wife and his daughter. Nicole came with her husband. Ashley got engaged this year. Kelly got... divorced? Or something? I don't know, it wasn't a topic delved into, understandably. But all this big life grown up stuff, and we still made absurd jokes, cracked each other up, told ridiculous stories, and went out to the Diner after it all, continuing the tradition and the laughter.
All I ever really want to do is this and make art. And I took some pictures -- some POLAROID pictures -- so arguably, I did both.
But the best picture might've been a group shot -- digital, on a phone, as it is 2018 after all -- and Ashley's mom was suspended in the background, eating something off the desert table and making a "scissors" hand gesture. Not sure how intentional it was; there was discussion about rock/paper/scissors earlier in the night, and according to Ashley and her sister, their mom would always throw scissors. But her pose was so good, we all immediately began imitating it, like it was a hip hop pose or an exaggerated photo stance. That became the new thing: throwing scissors.
And my new artist name is Babyface Hamburger.
A night worth waiting 365 days for.
Christmas Caroling Party at Ashley's.
I get to see more friends in one place at one time than I have all year, friends that would normally gather together all the time, and it goes so damn well. It's a fucking blast. I never laugh harder and more joyously than I do during this night. Closest would be Ashley's 4th of July barbecue. I shorthand by saying "Ashley's" when, of course, it's her family that host us and put on these events, and it's always a wonderful time. Unfailingly, reliably, memorably wonderful. I don't know how else such a feat is accomplished other than the fact that it's filled with friends I've known, hell, more than half of my life.
John came with his wife and his daughter. Nicole came with her husband. Ashley got engaged this year. Kelly got... divorced? Or something? I don't know, it wasn't a topic delved into, understandably. But all this big life grown up stuff, and we still made absurd jokes, cracked each other up, told ridiculous stories, and went out to the Diner after it all, continuing the tradition and the laughter.
All I ever really want to do is this and make art. And I took some pictures -- some POLAROID pictures -- so arguably, I did both.
But the best picture might've been a group shot -- digital, on a phone, as it is 2018 after all -- and Ashley's mom was suspended in the background, eating something off the desert table and making a "scissors" hand gesture. Not sure how intentional it was; there was discussion about rock/paper/scissors earlier in the night, and according to Ashley and her sister, their mom would always throw scissors. But her pose was so good, we all immediately began imitating it, like it was a hip hop pose or an exaggerated photo stance. That became the new thing: throwing scissors.
And my new artist name is Babyface Hamburger.
A night worth waiting 365 days for.