Shark Week makes my worlds collide

Today marks the last official day of Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week, or, as it is known by my nearest and dearest, "Jill's Personal Highest Holiday". Ok, Shark Week doesn't actually rank higher than Easter or Christmas. But I'd say it's a reasonable 3rd place.

I do look forward to Shark Week at least as much as any other more traditional holiday (maybe more, because I'm not beleaguered by any Shark Week carols blasting in the stores for months on end, or jaded by the blasphemy of pastel Shark Week baskets and all their sickly-sweet fodder), and for the last 3 years, I've tried to do it up right. In fact, I'm fairly convinced that Les and I are together today in part because of the fact that our early email correspondence on eHarmony included some exchanges that went like this:

Les: So, tell me more about what you did this weekend.
Jill: Well, I worked on my bloody shark-tooth banner and bought a tank top from the thrift store that I could shred and splatter with red paint for my Shark Week Party costume. I also tested out my shark fin ice cube trays to make sure that the ice fins would float realistically in people's drinks.

(Insert the sound of a deep and anxious breath being exhaled with my finger poised over the "send" button, sure that this was one instance where being honest would send this suitor flying. But also deciding that he was worth the risk).

Les: What kind of paint do you use for fake blood? Is it real fake blood, or paint, or some kind of special paint for fabrics? Did you make the banner with cloth? If so, what kind? Will everyone wear a costume for Shark Week Party, or just you?

That first official Shark Week Party was also Les's debut to my friends, and I glowed with happiness as one by one my friends came up to me and said things like "He is really great, Jill! I'm so happy for you!" and "He's so funny and smart! You guys are so cute together!". And other behind-the-scenes friends worked hard to make sure that he looked good in my eyes as the party hostess - "helping him" set up my TV while making it look like he had done it himself.  I knew, but it was cute.

So Shark Week and Shark Week Party have become a fixture of my summer entertaining. It's something that I'm known for, and people start asking me about it around the time that beach balls and sunscreen take over the retail landscape. And I admit, I started talking it up to my work friends here pretty early on, so they would not be taken by surprise by my asking them to come to our apartment and watch The Best of Shark Week on DVD because I don't have cable. I told them about the decorations and the shark-themed food. And I secretly prayed that SOMEONE would be game to celebrate with me. Because frankly, and weirdly, not being in Chicago for Shark Week picked my homesickness scabs and made me ache. For people who know and love me, and do not think that it is at all strange that I would be asking them if they would bring the candy sushi this year, or pick up an extra bottle of red wine for the Shark Fin Sangria.

And wouldn't you know it, my besties have come through with Facebook notes, texts, and emails wishing me "Happy Shark Week" and "Watching Shark Week and Missing YOU!" and photos of their babies in shark pants saying "Hi to Jill, in honor of Shark Week!". I even got a "Happy Shark Week" card in the mail. My heart has just swelled and throbbed for them, but I am so so SO thankful. My people. My family.

And my new people here have played along better than I had hoped. In fact, I'm proud and excited that tonight we will be having a Shark Week party at my co-worker Natalie's house. I had thought that we may only have one or two people that would come over to my house for a couple of hours, but as we talked, it sounded like more and more of my co-workers had been planning on it all along. So we outgrew our little place, and have moved the festivities to Natalie's. I'm super excited, and a little nervous. I need to get busy with the food prep. I need to try on my newly painted shark fin tank top.

And I need to pause and give thanks for the strange and wonderful ways that God works bizarre things together for good.

So Happy Shark Week to All, and to All a Good Fright! Or, as we the Shark Week Watchers say, "Fins Up!"