And I cringe.

Bridal shower.

A high school friend’s bridal shower is tomorrow. Of course, it’s not to say that I am not honored to be invited. In fact, I really appreciate that our friendship has lasted for so long—all through the different phases of our lives, through the good and bad.

Initially, I thought: this is great! My friend is awesome and deserves to be celebrated.

But then I looked up the definition of a bridal shower. An event really centered around the gifts. It’s all female—because generally custom assumes that women have female friends only. It’s about dressing up in nice dresses, looking nice, eating salads…surrounded by lace, pastels, and more.

It’s my first bridal shower even though I am approaching my thirties.

So tomorrow morning, I will get up and drive to my parents’ house. I will have a present wrapped up in my trunk. I will write something on the card. I will wear a dress that I will decide on the last minute. I will wear a touch of eyeliner and mascara…perhaps even a dab of pseudo-lipstick. I will eat lunch with my parents…and then drive the 2 miles to my friend’s parents’ house. I will enter with a smile and stay with a smile through the shower, maintaining the mores of situations. Then I will enjoy it…I will enjoy it.

Because most importantly, this is a celebration of the next greatest phase of a treasured friend’s life.