Since gnomes often work alone or in small groups off-planet, we love the occasional large party, or even better, a wedding with the most delicious food and special wedding cakes available. There are few gnomes who would miss an enjoyable gnome social event or wedding.

  Gnomes are all one species but we don’t have just one home planet. There are many planets populated by gnomes around the universes. Therefore, these types of large gatherings have a mix of gnomes from many planets. A gnome party is not only great for making new friends, but we also get to visit with relatives from our clans. Since we merely have to instantly transport to attend an event, there are frequent gnome gatherings.

  We always have lots of music and dancing at our get-togethers. This includes the usual types of peasant dancing, like maypole dances, square dances and line dances for all ages.

  Regrettably, flirting doesn’t come smoothly or naturally to most gnomes, so the adolescents definitely need a little help. The dance floor is a perfect place to practice their courting skills in a low-stress situation. The youngsters get to meet many youths and learn to recognize that little “spark” between two gnomes that might eventually signal the start of a successful relationship.

  One dance favorite is called “Sailing to Carmalie.”

  This is a circle dance, helpful for young adolescents who are too shy to talk to their crush. A person’s name is called during a song, and the blushing young gnome chosen goes into the middle of the circle with the calling partner. They whirl around together for a bit while everyone claps and sings this song:

  I sail on the running river

  I sail on the open sea

  I sail on the wide blue ocean

  I sail to the town of Carmalie

  To Carmalie I go, to Carmalie I go,

  My true love for to see

  She walks on the lonely footpath

  That’s where she waits for me

  My sweet (name) waits for me, she (or he) waits for me

  I know she waits for me

  But if she’s gone with another fellow (or girl)

  Then back to my sailing ship for me

  Another true love will come to me

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Another true love for to see

  There’s a great big wide ocean

  I’ll find a new love to wait for me

  Then the first caller drops out, and the gnome who was called gets to choose and call the next partner. It goes on and on until everyone is chosen. There is a lot of embarrassed laughter and commotion. The prolonged interaction really cements new friendships.

  To be honest, this type of song serves as a good gauge to see who may have been sneaking glasses of hard cider. Any unsteady adolescent needs to be scolded and watched more closely.

  Everyone pretends to ignore the occasional young couple sneaking off together, walking along the footpaths by the great big wide ocean. Older and more mature couples just happen to walk in the same direction as the youths, casually strolling, talking loudly. After all, even though these adolescents think they can behave like fully grown adults, they definitely may not. It’s good to remind them of that fact but not completely ruin their evening.

  Gnomes often meet their future spouses at these large gnome gatherings, and especially during the group dances. Of course, Jaal and I met during our years on Earth, but we still participated in this type of silly and fun dance until we got married. Then as a newly mature married couple, we no longer participated in singles groups and dances. If we had dared show up among the single gnomes, we would have been expected to be chaperones. We moved to the more enjoyable community dances instead.

  The younger children always get overtired from their long day of playing and snacking. They are taken in hand by volunteers to calm them with some familiar, soothing activities. Walking in a long line with synchronized arm motions, then ending with bows and curtsies, is always fun for the younger gnomes as they wind down.

  The next song is often the last song the children hear before they fall asleep on their blankets:

  Lay you down and quietly rest

  Dream of the meadow around you

  Green plants are so happy to see you

  Grass welcomes you with a soft carpet to lie on

  Sweet smelling clover tickles your nose

  Violets shyly raise their heads to gaze at you

  Daisy petals reach out to lightly touch you

  Hollyhocks show off their colors

  Rosebuds perfume the air

  And the trees whisper in the breeze

  They smile and lull you to sleep

  Watching over you and singing lullabies

  Unlike some societies, our children are always included in large celebrations. We design activities specifically for them. They have fun but we also start teaching proper behaviors and cherished traditions at an early age.

  Parents end up talking about every stage of their children’s lives: what they are studying, what hobbies they have taken up, and eventually their careers. Then the ever-popular topic of who is marrying whom and who has decided to have a baby is next. Their homes and jobs are also thoroughly reviewed.

  The merriment always gets louder and the singing more off-key as the local cider makes its rounds. Discussion gradually morphs into the area of who is getting older and who unfortunately has passed on to their next life. Remember that gnomes can just step out of their molecules to end their lives when they feel like they have gotten too old to function. Death after a long life is not a sad event, but the departing soul will be missed.

  Wider topics like politicians and councils and changing societies are debated as the festive day draws to a close. There are few subjects that are considered sensitive or rude in gnome society. When everybody knows most everyone else, there are no secrets to stay hidden.

  Gnome planets are carefully hidden within warped space fields and shielded from any kind of spaceship sensor. Adversarial species or simply curious travelers pass very close to a gnome planet and never notice it. That kind of security, along with powerful plasma weapons, makes us feel safe enough to plan large outdoor activities in an often-dangerous universe. The confidence in our security makes our celebrations extra special. Unfortunately, many planets and species do not have such luxury.

  Once our day is done, we all promise to get together more often. Sometimes we actually do. We say goodbye until the next get-together, and transport our families safely home.