Despedida Party for Lulu

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lulu. I never had the chance to meet Lulu in person. However, due to this funny incident, Lulu will forever be a girl whom I will remember.

It all started this one night. Janet, who is a common friend of me and Lulu, called me up. Apparently, Lulu is migrating to Australia which was why Janet and more of their other friends are planning a surprise farewell party for her.

Janet was assigned to do the invitations. She, however, was unsure as to how the wording for the invitation should go. So she asked me:

"'Despedida party for Lulu', is that right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing, I was just unsure what preposition to use."

"Oh ok, yeah it's for..."

"Ok, thanks!"

"...or maybe to." (grin)

"Grrr... which is it?"

"I kid, I kid. It's for... to, Despedida Party to Lulu." (laughs)

(Janet laughs along) "Yeah that sounds ridiculous!" (more laughter)

(silence)

(silence)

"Despedida party under Lulu."

(laugh) (laugh)

"Despedida party within Lulu."

(laugh) (laugh)

"Oh! Oh! Here's a good one: 'Despedida party without Lulu'!!

And as you can imagine the laughter went on through the wee hours of the night as we kept thinking of other prepositions that would give the sentence a whole new meaning.

I bet the neighbors were wondering why someone is laughing like a maniac at 3am.

Despedida party in Lulu.
Despedida party on Lulu.
Despedida party at Lulu.
Despedida party by Lulu.
Despedida party from Lulu.
Despedida party except Lulu.
Despedida party over Lulu.
Despedida party across Lulu.
Despedida party beside Lulu.
Despedida party besides Lulu.
Despedida party behind Lulu.
Despedida party in front of Lulu.
Despedida party along Lulu.
Despedida party before Lulu.
Despedida party after Lulu.
Despedida party alongside Lulu.
Despedida party during Lulu.

And the list went on and on.

It has been years since that phone conversation happened and still Lulu and her infamous Despedida Party remained a running joke for us. And as the years passed, it kept evolving and evolving to whole new dimensions.

Despedida party masterminded by Lulu.
Despedida party chosen by Lulu.
Despedida party ignored by Lulu.
Despedida party in memory of Lulu.
Despedida party inspired by Lulu.
Despedida party imitated by Lulu.
Despedida party despite Lulu.
Despedida party instigated by Lulu.
Despedida party with regard to Lulu.
Despedida party revealed by Lulu.
Despedida party reported by Lulu.

Lulu and the party invitation joke continues to this day. Only this time, it has turned into something a tabloid might carry as a headline:

Despedida party shocks Lulu!

- - - - - - -

Moral: Prepositions are evil.

Lulu is now happily settled in Australia and is married to a big, beefy plumber who looks like the owner of David's Salon. To this day, the author hasn't met Lulu.