My daughter Shannon’s wedding shower is less than a month away. We will be having it at the Grange in East Vassalboro, in the lovely, restored old building that was such a big part of my mother’s life. (She passed away two years ago, and for more about the Grange, see my post Tea at the Grange with Esther.) 

Let’s just say that plans are afoot. The invitations have been sent, RSVPs are coming in, and we already have a nice little group who will be coming. I expect there will be more RSVPs in the next couple of weeks. 

Last year, I went to a wedding shower for Sara Clark, the daughter of our friends Beth and John Clark. Beth and her youngest daughter, Lisa, put on a charming bridal tea for Sara, and, as I like to say, I stole the idea from them for Shannon’s shower. The bridal tea was served in three courses, which is what we will do, and all the food for Shannon’s shower will be homemade, just as it was for Sara’s. 

Right from the start, I knew I would need some help. Twenty-seven guests have been invited, and while this is not much bigger than some of the parties we have at our little house in the big woods, it would nevertheless be quite a stretch for one person to do it all.  My eldest daughter, Dee, is helping me host the shower, but she lives in New York and is coming home only a day before the shower. So I asked my friends Claire and Kate if they would help, and they graciously agreed. Ditto for Andrea, one of Shannon’s bridesmaids, and for Gail, Shannon’s future mother-in-law. What a relief to have so many helpers who will cook, make sandwiches, help set up, and most important, wash dishes afterward. (There will be no paper, and, I hope, hardly any trash. I want this shower to be as green as possible.) 

But then other offers came in. Esther, a good friend of my mother’s, said she would make egg salad sandwiches; Debbie, Andrea’s mother, offered to make some kind of dessert; Rose, my sister-in-law, volunteered to make a fruit salad to be served as the first course; and Beth Clark will bring her luscious blueberry cake that Shannon and I are so crazy about it. (I could eat a piece of that cake right now.) 

Both Shannon and I are incredibly moved that so many women will be pitching in to help with this very special event. This outpouring of help feels like the best of the old days, and how fitting this is for a shower that is to be held at the Grange. It is also in keeping with my mother’s philosophy. She had an unwavering commitment to community, family, and friends, and she understood how necessary they all were to live a good life, a life rich with connection and meaning. 

Many, many thanks to Andrea, Beth, Claire, Debbie, Dee, Esther, Gail, Kate, and Rose. And if you need me to cook or to help with some event, I will be there.