A 12 year-old's Sweet Sixteen.

[Sugar Smack]

"Elizabeth" is the 12 year-old daughter of one of my neighbors in the apt. complex. When I was first introduced to her last year, I'd assumed she was about 15; the was extremely precocious, well-spoken, poised and beautiful. She took to dropping by sometimes when she was upset or bored. But she respected the fact that I was really busy at times and simply couldn't hang out.

Today was a free day for me; I was goofing off, doing some writing, etc. When I let Elizabeth in today, I gestured to the couch, which meant "welcome to stay". I sat in my window chair and she started eagerly telling me about what her "Sweet Sixteen" birthday party will be like! I nodded very seriously and said, "It's wise of you to begin planning for it now."

I pulled out my notebook and she gave me a very detailed description of her party 4 years from now:

* It will take place at a Hilton Hotel in New York, half indoors and half outdoors. Between 200 and 500 guests are to be expected.

* "And I would like a giant ice sculpture," she added.
"Of what?" I asked, imagining a swan or a castle.
"Me," she said.

* There will be three linen-covered buffets set up, with Chippendales types wearing white tuxes and serving; a bar for the adults, an hors d'oeurves buffet featuring chips & mozarella sticks, and a dinner buffet.
The menu for dinner will be: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, baked ziti, lasagna, spaghetti, pasta salad, and macaroni salad.
The birthday cake will be 3-Tiered. Chocolate with vanilla icing, vanilla with chocolate icing, alternating, with pink roses all over it. (I suggested gold leaf. Elizabeth said, "That might be too expensive. I'll ask my mom.")

* There will be white doves, baby tigers, and poodles

* She will make her entrance from a hot-air balloon. Once it's descended, She will ride a pink-tutued elephant into the party. She'll wear a strapless pink dress, high heels, a tiara, a shawl, and a french manicure. Diamonds.

* "Who do you want sitting next to you?" I asked, planning the placement of the cards.
"Christina Aguilerra on one side and Kelly Clarkton on the other," she said.

* "Party favors! We'll have sno-globes with little scenes of New York in them!" she cried, clapping wildly.
"I'd BETTER be invited to this thing," I growled, taking notes.

* Lastly, there will be tiki torches lining the pool for when it gets dark, and a fireworks display at around nineish. Oh, and paparazzi. She wants the event to be on TV.

I gave her a copy of our list, and then I told her I had to eat & post this thing. She took the list, hopping about and said she was going to show it to her mother for her consideration. Then, she thanked me and slammed out the door. I can't wait for this thing to happen. I'm sure it'll be a blast.


;-)

[wildhorses]

1. Holy Shit!!! Can I get an invite???

you gotta be kidding me:wow:

[Sugar Smack]

4. Won't it be lovely? I'll ask her!

I almost fell off my chair laughing when she said, "I think I should ride an elephant into the party!" We both came up with the elephant tutu idea.

I wonder what gifts we'll bring the young miss. :rofl: :pals:

[wildhorses]

6. something from Tiffanys I presume...

:rofl::pals:

[Sugar Smack]

10. Did you know that back in 1961, you could buy a sterling-silver

telephone dialer for only $6.00 and get a Cracker Jacks ring engraved free at Tiffany's? It's true! I saw it in a movie once!

:D :woohoo:

[wildhorses]

17. don't you just LOVE how anything is possible at the movies?

;):woohoo:

[Sugar Smack]

27. I do, I really do!

For example, in "Kalifornia", Brad Pitt managed to convince me he was repulsive for 2 hours.

:rofl: :hug: :yourock:

[bridgit]

2. what a lovely story darlin, i've always been a tad envious of...

Wanda June myself...happy b-day punkin :party:

[Sugar Smack]

7. Thank you, mon bijou!

And your party hat is DIVINE, my dear!!!! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: I believe I'll wear an understated oyster pearl-gray silk dress with elbow gloves.

[bridgit]

19. it is my standard so therefore has to be & long since thread bare...

but i'm wearing my 'leopard skin pillbox hat' :woohoo: :party:

this, of course, is not it = i'm having it dry cleaned for a special little lady :thumbsup:

[Sugar Smack]

31. That sounds utterly delightful!

It may even steal the show, this hat. Someone may even come along & write a song about it.

BWAAAH! :rofl:

[asthmaticeog]

3. Ooof, WAY too much carbs on the menu.

Otherwise, it sounds like a happenin' soirée.

[Sugar Smack]

9. That's very true, but to foolishly seperate a 12 year-old from her carbs

is to put one's very life in peril. As a matter of fact, when she added the baked ziti to the list, and then ran on with the other pastas, I raised my eyebrow at her a little. But that's as far over the line as I stepped. I have to assume that in four years she may change her mind. :pals:

[tinfoil tiaras]

5. She should be on "My Super Sweet 16" on MTV

Those girls have some tricked out parties...

[Sugar Smack]

12. Oh, do you know what?

I think she MENTIONED that show! See, I've never seen it. I'd heard a little about it on DU, but I simply steered clear cause I'm not really interested in some of the "reality shows" I've heard of. I've seen "Bridezillas" 3 or so times, and afterwards got my bp meds upped.

But now that you mention it, maybe that's where she got some of her ideas. And here I thought she was just being naturally lofty. :D

[tinfoil tiaras]

13. Haha, that's probably right

The girls on there are SUPER rich and get celeberties to come to their parties and all. Like this one girl had Ciara or someone come to her party.

Me, personally, I'd want R.E.M. and Conor Oberst to come to my Sweet 16.. :D

[Sugar Smack]

23. OMG. It sounds almost like "Bridezillas"!

Oh, and by the way, TT, rumor has it that you're something of an REM fan. :rofl: :toast: Well, so am I. If I could have had a sweet 36 party this year, I would have asked Courtney to make an appearance!

[LynneSin]

44. Oh you have to watch that show, if only to understand the disgust

16 year old kids screaming that it's all about them and that their parents need to drop $100-200k on their birthday party OR ELSE.

I am frighted at the prospect of dealing with these kids when they become adults

[dropkickpa]

8. That menu is nearly identical

to about 6 outdoor "picnic" type Italian weddings I've been to. All she needs to complete it is the cookie table!

[Sugar Smack]

21. It's going to be a very huge carb-frenzy picnic!

I almost talked her into serving veggies, but all she said was, "Well, baked potatoes are veggies, right? Good, then. It's settled." I imagine she'd be fond of german chocolate-dipped butter cookies, and butter cookies with pink icing.

:9

[sakabatou]

11. Tch

-_- What A-Class brat...

[Sugar Smack]

18. Nope. She's had a tough life. She's entitled to her imagination.

She's incredibly mature for her age, and only when she's overdosed on sugar does she ever go nuts. Even that's rare.

[sakabatou]

20. Right

Be it just reminds me of those people on MTV's "My Sweet Sixteen" >_<

[Sugar Smack]

37. I should watch that once.

For some perspective. This girl Elizabeth is into everything, mostly outdoors & books. That's why she likes my apartment. She loves to look at the bookshelves and to talk about things outside herself. I think watching that TV show you mentioned might make my head explode, truth be told.

[Fleshdancer]

14. I would laugh my a** off if I were her mother

This sounds like something MY daughter would come up with and she's only 6. Needless to say, I'm very afraid of her teenage years. This also sounds like something a few of the female friends of the family would help her think up. Goddess help the mother of "Elizabeth".

:rofl:

[Sugar Smack]

24. She did! I found out her mother took one look at that list

and laughed til the tears came. Especially about Elizabeth's appearance, first in a hot air balloon, and then on an elephant. You took this exactly in the spirit in which it was intended. This is a child with a huge imagination of a family with not much money. She is gifted, loves feeling loved, and is also startlingly resourceful.

LOL- Your daughter sounds like a hoot. :D

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. That sounds very much like my daughter's "Sweet Sixteen"

Except there were only 18 of us...
...and it was at my house...

...with no elephants, tigers, poodles, and chocolate cake.

No tiki torches, but there was some snow.

No fancy dress, but she loved her new American Eagle jeans.

No big celebrities but her big ham of a little brother. ;)

That sounds adorable. Let me know how it turns out! :hug:

[Sugar Smack]

25. Ooh, ooh! So how was the hot-air balloon?

:rofl:

I'll bet it was the most beautiful thing ever. WannaBeGrumpy is the kind of young lady I know Elizabeth will be. Curious about the world, resourceful, funny, and deeply caring. Also, very much a part of what goes on around her.

You're so lucky to have each other, L. I admire you. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. I hope that her parents are named Rockefeller.

What a kickass party she envisions. Um, can you ask her sometime about her wedding plans? I'd be curious to know what kind of blowout she wants. :D

[Sugar Smack]

28. Oh, she vehemently asserts that she'll NEVER get married.

She really does count on turning sixteen, and more power to her. I swear, when I quizzed her on what menu she wanted, which kinds of flowers (pink roses and white lilies) some of her answers she had to think about, some occurred to her very quickly, and some she volunteered in her inspiration. What a good way for me to spend the afternoon.

But honestly, this girl would be just as happy at a movie & dinner with her friends, wearing jeans & t-shirts. She's a good, down-to-earth gal. :)

[greatauntoftriplets]

32. In some ways, she reminds me of the girl triplet....

who will be 6 in late October. She is a girly girl (though she plays t-ball with her brothers) and would love that kind of party in her honor. Of course, she always has to share her birthday with two boys...which would make her love that kind of party even more.

Kids are so damn special. :D

[Sugar Smack]

39. They really are.

They love surprises. Good ones. The children I like to look out for when I'm not too busy are wonderful.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. Pardonnez moi, mon amie, mais....

Quel enfant gate!! :wow:

Le monde reel est tres difficile, et quelque personne devrait la explique maintenant...

[Sugar Smack]

30. Non, elle n'est pas gate, ma cherie. Pas de tout.

La fille a l'existence tres difficile. Elle a la vision d'une enfant mais le perspicacite d'une adulte.

:) :*

[bicentennial_baby]

36. Eh oui....

Je suis un petit grincheux ce soir, je suis desolee...Je comprends, absolutement. :hug:

Tu es ma cherie, toujours... :loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

40. Je suis heureaux!!

:loveya: :bounce:

[bertha katzenengel]

26. Imagination is a great thing. n/t

[Sugar Smack]

33. It really is.

She's so cute. She always wants to "help" me with stuff. Like, "You could open a bookstore with what's on your shelves. I could be your assistant." She wants to convince me I could get rich selling used books. LOL!

[reyd reid reed]

29. Next week, she'll be over to plan her wedding...

She sounds like a sweetheart.

:D)

[Sugar Smack]

34. Weddings are where she draws the line.

NO weddings. She is a sweetheart & so are you. When I asked her if I could post it as a thread, she jumped up & down and said, "Really?" She trusts me. And she's figured out how to have a sense of humor early on. Also, she's a die-hard Democrat.



:bounce:

[reyd reid reed]

35. Good for her...

:bounce::bounce:

I just love to hear about sensible young women.

[Sugar Smack]

38. Me too. I always consider it a wonderful thing.

:hug: :yourock: By this one, though, I'm not surprised.

[NewWaveChick1981]

41. Gee, for my Sweet Sixteen, I got a telescope.

:rofl: Nerd that I am...

That's more planning than a lot of people do with their weddings. :P

[Sugar Smack]

42. Dammit, that's freakin GREAT.

I don't think I possess the vocabulary to say how great that is. Suffice it to say, a telescope is what every kid wants. I don't even have one yet. Do you still have yours, honey?

:bounce: :hi: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[NewWaveChick1981]

43. I do.

My mother got advice on which one to get from one of the monks at Belmont Abbey College, where she was the library director at the time. Father Bertrand (Father B) was such a great guy. He was an RAF chaplain in WWII and the resident astronomer at BAC. He taught me a lot about astronomy, which I began exploring about age 10. I always wanted a really good telescope, and the one Mom got was state of the art in 1979. :woohoo: It's currently in my garage and was just used last night to view what's left of the Perseids.

:toast:

[NewWaveChick1981]

46. Forgot to mention that in my family, Sweet Sixteen just means

your 16th birthday. Yeah, we have celebrations, but it was only slightly more special than the others.

Oh, and I got my driver's license on my 16th birthday! :woohoo:

[trogdor]

45. They still do Sweet Sixteen?

That's so...1958.