The Bridal Shower

Below I have posted some photos from a wedding shower I went to with Rosalina. This was my first time at a wedding shower. Rosalina told me that this was a wedding shower for refined ladies (yeyas) and that I had also been invited. I was very curious to attend such a party. I had an idea of what a bridal shower might be like. I pictured a small group of ladies gathered in a living room playing silly games, eating little cakes, and giving the future bride secret advice about men along with racy lingerie.
Rosalina and I arrived at the party. We were late of course. The party was set to begin at 4 o clock. When I emerged from the bedroom, dressed and ready to go at 4:05, Rosalina informed me that it was much to early to leave for the party. I believe we arrived closer to 6. A man stood in the yard of the house where the party was and directed us to a spot to park on the lawn. Rosalina and I began to walk towards the house which was a one story house and very long and wide. Once inside we found ourselves in an open air space with elegant tables overlooking the backyard. The mother of the bride, a lady with blue eyes who I recognized from a chance meeting in the parking lot of the new Conway department store in town, fluttered in and gave us each a kiss. A calm, statuesque girl in a strapless forest green evening dress approached us an welcomed us as well. This was her party and the other lady, her future mother in law. A woman in a tight black vest and matching pants with a white button up shirt immediately handed us each a tall glass of sangria. It was made with white wine, strawberries (which seem to be a more refined fruit in Panama than back home, like apples and grapes,) green grapes, and orange pieces. Other ladies in similar vests bustled in and out of the saloon style doors through which I could see a large kitchen. Two other ladies were also standing near with their sangria glasses in hand.
"Speak english!" the mother of the groom said with a flourish. The blonde lady she was talking to suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"She wants that I speak english, because I have lived in Minnesota." the lady said. (I actually don´t remember what state it was.)
"Everybody here speaks english!" said the mother of the groom.
We took our seats at a round glass table next to a lady with tissue paper skin who looked as if she felt a bit out of place. Several ladies had already arrived and more were coming at every moment. A lady in a black and white polka dot blouse and skirt entered the party and made a quick glance around the room while standing. Moments later a lady in a dark navy polka dot dress came in. Their eyes met for an instant and soon cast away again as the mother of the groom approached to greet them both. Rosalina introduced me to the lady at our table and the conversation quickly turned to her upcoming trip to Spain.
"....Erika has been to many countries. Where have you been Erika? Were you in Spain? No, but last year you were in France, Germany, Switzerland...where else..." said Rosalina.
"Belgium and the Netherlands..." I said, but the lady was no longer listening.
Suddenly we had her attention again.
"Germany is absolutely beautiful," ("Is it really?" I thought.) "My niece spent 7 years in Germany. Lovely country."
Soon a lady arriving somewhat late came in. No one greeted her at first. I saw her take a moment to collect herself, a deep breath. She approached our table, placed her hand on my shoulder and while scanning the room, said "Mucho gusto." to no one in particular. Soon she was moving with a big smile toward the other side of the room. There was more noise in the room than I would have expected for the amount of people. The chatter increased.
Later we ate little cheese empanadas. I began to feel a bit awkward. I wished that Joy was with me. I busied myself with the slow nibbling of the tasty little empanadas, and with the act of fishing out an ant that floated among the fruit in my sangria, its legs splayed open, lifeless.
"Well, at least it died happy." I tucked it inside my napkin.
There was plenty of food to eat. The mushrooms were delicious. I ate them cap first. There were also three kinds of dessert.
When we came home that night it was fun talking about the different things we both noticed, like when the tall sangria glasses kept breaking, the party host, said over the noise...."Oh, no no don´t worry....they´re cheap!" And the horror on the faces of two ladies who came in wearing the same blouse.