Tea Party in the Park

Today (yesterday?) was my friend Alice's Unbirthday Party. The festivities were held in a large public park, an Alice-themed tea party of magnificent proportions, costumes required. Naturally, yours truly went as the Cheshire Cat, the Walrus as the Walrus. Before the party, though, my good friend Pixy wanted some help with her costume: the Oysters.

So we got some clam shells and cleaned them out and drilled some holes in them, then strung them together to make a castanet and some hand-coverings. As one does.

So, a Walrus, a Cat, and some Oysters trundled down to the park for tea.

This is a big park, so once we got there, we had a little trouble finding our friends. Luckily for us, as we meandered we encountered the March Hare and a Domino woman. "You must be on your way to the tea party!" exclaimed the March Hare.

"Why yes," I grinned, "we are indeed."

"Follow us; we know the way!" And off they skipped, arm in arm, down the path ahead. After a brief stop to dance for some onlookers, they led us directly to the festivities.

There must have been fifty people there, fully costumed and partaking in such fine activities as juggling, tumbling, and general merrymaking. There were, of course, snacks and tea. We saw the White Rabbit and his lady, Alice; there were Cards with bouquets of white roses painted red; we saw a Jabberwock, who lent her mighty steel claws to the dormouse for safekeeping; and more and more and more. I do believe I might have been the only Cheshire Cat, but that was all to the good. I went over to some friends I'd seen and took out my contact juggling ball, joining their fun.

Not long later, our attention was called by the Unbirthday Girl herself, Alice. She proclaimed that each of the four Mad Hatters must join in a battle to the death - or at least de-hatting - until only one Hatter remained. The rules were as follows: each must grab a weapon of their choice; the fight would go on until only one hat remained on; the participants must be insane; and the weapons could not be held by hands. The Hatters took to this challenge with grins on their faces and weaponry in their elbows. Two were quickly defeated. The remaining two were called for a second round. They must fight by pinwheel until only one retained his weapon! They began by holding their weapons in their teeth, but both soon tired of this. Alice proclaimed that they must resort to their knees. With mighty shouts from the crowd (Keep it UP, lads!), the battle recommenced, but soon, one Hatter moved too fast and lost his pinwheel to gravity. The remaining Hatter was declared the victor, and all other Hatters must remove their hats in tribute.

After convincing the Walrus to attempt to learn contact juggling, I relented at last and took up my poi instead. Hours of silliness, spinning, crowd-garnering attention, and conversation with friends old and new, at last it came to dusk. As it grew cold again, we packed up our things and left.

Then we met up with Pixy's husband for fried chicken and silly Youtube videos. No matter how depressing things can get, this kind of crazy day is what makes me love my life. "The dandelion has my smile..."