Don’t Cry Over Spilled Bebida Negra
Last Halloween, Kyle and I received an invitation to a birthday party with a Halloween theme in Oia, Spain. It's interesting how Halloween is just another day there, quite different from the festive celebrations in the States. I can't help but remember the Halloween festivities on Oneida St in Denver's Mayfair neighborhood—closed off for trick-or-treaters. The street is adorned with elaborate decorations on gorgeous Victorian homes. Trick or Treaters lined up at the doors to get their full size candy bars!
People of all ages, including us, dressed up for Halloween. Before moving here we sold or donated all of our old Halloween costumes, from Faye Ray & King Kong, to a custom made Strawberry Shortcake costume. Little did we know they would come in handy!
In case you haven’t heard of the Lawrence Welk & The Fingerlake Sisters from SNL here it is
Two days before the party, we found ourselves scrambling to find a costume. Thankfully, our contractors pointed us in the direction of a place called Don Disfraz. The journey there felt like a never-ending drive through a secluded forest, surrounded only by a handful of industrial buildings. Just when we thought we were lost, a massive warehouse emerged—the mysterious Don Disfraz. It didn't exactly exude Halloween vibes, but with limited choices and time ticking away, we proceeded inside.
Under the standard-issue Spanish fluorescent lighting and sterile ambiance, rows of prepackaged Halloween costumes, each labeled with numbers. It was almost like navigating a menu at a fast-food chain, but instead of burgers and fries, we were selecting our Halloween costumes for the night.
The costume choices were as strange and as the ambiance, but fortunately, they featured our reliable go-tos: Wednesday (Miercoles) Adams and Uncle Fester, well kinda. Instead of the usual black tights, they had sparkly ones, and Wednesday's attire included a black and white polka dot dress paired with a Native American wig. It was a glamorous version of the gothic classic character, and I couldn't help but feel a bit cheesy!
Surprisingly, there was no Uncle Fester costume, but a priest costume could work. With a long black gown, Kyle tucked under the white band, and a touch of makeup, we transformed and was ready for our first Halloween party in Spain!
For the party, we volunteered to bring a fall kale salad featuring butternut squash, dates, pomegranate, avocado, and goat cheese. Kyle's homemade hummus and veggies, accompanied by a spooky blackberry cocktail. Crafting the cocktail was an adventure in itself—Kyle meticulously opened over 20 capsules of activated charcoal for a spooky season black hue, while I took charge of muddling blackberries and mint.
We didn’t have very many dishes for entertaining or any way to transport the beverage other than a glass pitcher. Nevertheless, much like the costumes, we made it work!
Happy with the way everything turned out, I secured the pitcher in a canvas tote bag, cushioning it carefully and held it upfront in the passenger seat.
We gathered our friends and embarked on the festivities, handling everything with care as we unloaded from the car and made our way to the kitchen. It had only been around two months since we moved to Spain, and for some of the people at the party, it was our first time meeting them.
As we greeted everyone in the kitchen and began unpacking the tote bag, things took an unexpected turn. Retrieving the pitcher proved challenging—the glass was slippery from humidity, and the strap got tangled, leading to a slow-motion disaster. The pitcher went airborne and shattered on our friend's pristine white tiled floor!
In that moment, my heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed with embarrassment and self-disappointment. The instinct to run and hide in a corner kicked in. However, our friends rallied to the rescue, swiftly cleaning up glass shards and soaking up the black liquid. We shared a good laugh, recognizing the irony of the situation given our character costumes. Both literally and metaphorically, I had to let go and realize there's no need to cry over spilled bebida Negra. Clean up, move on, and embrace the night.
We ventured downstairs with our salad and hummus, soon made way for a Spanish tortilla buffet. The birthday celebration kicked off with singing, dancing, and our friend's mom entertaining everyone with her Galician bagpipes, known as the Gaita.
It turned out to be a fun night, filled with unexpected experiences and a willingness to step outside our comfort zones.
