We had a baby shower for Maria today. My in-laws arranged for it at the Vassar College Alumnae house, the same place Maria and I married. I was a bit preoccupied the last time I was there so I didn’t appreciate how nice a place it was. It sure trumped the usual casual catering and homey situation. I think people had a good time.

When the women began with the gifts, I gathered up the guys and trooped over to the Julliet Billiards for a few games of pool. Great idea. We enjoyed ourselves. The ritual of the baby shower is a rite of passage, I suppose, or a form of hazing. None seem to like doing it- going, “ooooh” and “ahhh” over the tenth plush toy or onesy- but they have to and they’ll be damned if they’re going to let anyone get out of it.

There is a lot of stuff. It wasn’t until I packed all of it into the car that I realized that this kid already has more things than I do. Who knew you needed all this just to have a baby? Not me. If I were a little (more) crazy I’d think it was a plot by the maternity-industrial complex to force parents to buy crap goods.