What I am thinking now is how did she even begin to put this theme together? As if she can read my mind, she says, “I watched a lot of futuristic things, movies, and music videos; I also researched a lot of AI stuff. I wanted my guests to feel like they had entered the future. As an events planner, I knew that the theme had to translate into everything: my outfit, the guests’ outfits, the ambiance, the food, the drinks, the font of the invitation cards, etc.” I am beginning to wonder whether her friends were on the same page with her on this birthday theme. “My friends thought the theme was bonkers. I needed to show them what ‘futuristic’ looked like, so I printed futuristic clothing and sent it to them, as well as links to musical videos with futuristic themes.” Then I wondered how she put the look together. “I wanted the inside of the spaceship to look real. It had to look like we were lifting up from earth. To do this, we had to work with a lot of experts. We used a lot of LED, neon lighting, as well as special effects. The food was also customized, and the cocktails came in a lot of purples and blues. We gave our female ushers silver updos, and they wore white pencil dresses with silver cuffs on their neck and arms and white boots. Our female waitresses were in short white dresses with harnesses, silver bob wigs, silver eyelashes, and thigh-high boots, while the male ushers were in white jumpers with silver lining, white boots and cyclops, and we sprayed their hair white. We also had masqueraders on stilts with big black helmets and neon clothing, and there were astronauts in real astronauts’ garb. Then, there was a scientist wearing a gas mask, lab coat, and a helmet. We had a big forty-footer container that we made into a neon-blue tunnel. When our guests entered the spaceship, it looked so real that they were in such awe. My cake was made like the solar system. My outfit was also futuristic; everything was either gold, silver, or metallic.” Nana Ama is so funny, chatty, and bubbly. This rundown she has given me has been interspersed with soft chuckles, hearty laughter, loads of ‘ei’s,’ and many ‘I have forgotten; old age is catching up with me.’ When I ask whether her friends got the concept, she launches into one long round of laughter before clapping her hands and saying: “My guests killed it. Herh! People wore neon shades and all sorts of weird stuff; capes, leathers, helmets; outlandish things. It was an experience. Another thing that wowed people was my entry. I entered the tunnel with two of my friends, and we were surrounded by my heavy-set ‘dogs’ who were in black patent jackets and heavy neck chains. By the time they walked us to the entrance of the ship, my choreographers were already there and doing a breakdance. Before anyone could say ‘Jack,’ me and my two friends had joined in the choreography and were matching the dancers step for step. What? People were amazed! Herh! It was fun! There were also fireworks when I cut my cake. It was amazing. Another interesting highlight of the day was when R2Bees arrived. People went wild. It was nostalgic.” She bursts into one of R2Bees’ songs, “walahi,” and I can’t help but sing along. Afterward, I ask if she had experienced any challenges while preparing for the day. “There were a few challenges, of which the most was ordering the things we needed to make the whole thing come together from Amazon and Alibaba. It was important that the items arrived on time. I needed the look to come together. Even sourcing things locally was difficult. Also, getting the neon lights to the channel was also difficult. All in all, it was a super fun day, and I will do it again if I have to.” 12 The Birthday Journal
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