The orphan party

Younger Daughter is currently at her overseas duty station in Europe. Like many military personnel, she finds herself far away from family during the festive season of Christmas.

Her solution? She’s throwing an “Orphan Party” on Christmas Eve, which will continue at least until midnight and probably later. She has a spacious apartment and large terrace, so lots of people who have no other family nearby will join together and make merry. She did this last year as well, and apparently it was a wonderful success.

We talked to her a couple days ago, and she explained the plans. Apparently the guest list is now up to 23 (including some children and, no kidding, two German shepherd puppies). She’s offering the space, including a portable fire pit on the terrace, and the guests are bringing everything else

Besides decorating her apartment, she’s assembling themed flowers consisting of bundles of pine branches, berries, and white flowers, some of which will be suspended from the ceiling to make fake mistletoe.

Even more fun, it’s a pajama party, so everyone will show up in (modest) sleep wear. There will be a prize for the best pajamas.

All food, all beverages (alcoholic and otherwise), all snacks and treats, are being brought by the various guests. (Her words: “I’m not making a damned thing.”) Younger Daughter has personalized gifts for everyone – everyone! – and she splurged a bit for these, including stockings for the kids. (The kids’ stockings will contain candy, chocolate, small toys, and – just to annoy the parents – harmonicas.) The packages under the Christmas tree shown above are just some of the gifts she’s wrapped for her guests.

Someone is bringing a hot chocolate bar, where the beverage can be enjoyed plain or mixed with Kahlua or Irish cream or other modifiers. Someone else is bringing all the necessary ingredients for s’mores, to be toasted over the fire pit. Yet someone else is bringing a karaoke machine so people can sing Christmas carols.

Above all, everyone is cognizant that children will be present, so everyone plans to keep things fairly wholesome. For those choosing to indulge in adult beverages, Younger Daughter is making sure everyone has designated drivers, and in a few instances she’s offering spare beds and floor space for those who just want to sleep it off.

Oddly enough, a card game I used to play with the girls when they were young – called King’s Corner – has become quite the sensation among Younger Daughter’s cohorts. Apparently they’re planning a King’s Corner playoff during the party, with a Nerf gun prize.

Last year’s party had about 20 people and just by chance there were no children present. She said everyone had a blast. Weirdly enough, one of the highlights was the cigars and chestnuts one guest brought. At the time, Younger Daughter was living in a different apartment with a massive patio , so people assembled around the fire pit smoking cigars and playing a game in which they tried to toss chestnuts into others’ drinks. Sounds odd, but apparently it was a smashing success.

I simply love the idea of an Orphan Party. If Younger Daughter, like so many of her fellow military personnel, are forced to be far away from loved ones over the holidays, I’m glad they’re celebrating together.