A Birthday

Today is my birthday! As usual, I wasn’t really into it, and hadn’t mentioned it to those who probably would wish to be reminded. I always wake up not into it, but generally family and friends rev me up, and by evening, if I am having dinner or party, I get pretty excited. This year, since both Rebecca and Rachael were working, I decided to hermitize at home and see if anyone remembered. My friend Samos is really into birthdays. “It’s two weeks till my birthday,” he used to tell me. “It’s eight more days. I hope you’re ready!” etc. So I was a little surprised not to hear from him. At around noon, the phone rang, and it was he. He said, “I’m coming to town. How about lunch together.” I wasn’t very hungry, but said we could go grocery shopping and get a snack. That was fine, so off we went to my favorite grocery store, where we saw these wonderful squashes. After that, we debated about where to get a snack, and decided to go to this funky little Mexican restaurant. We both had always wanted to go there, but were a little nervous about it. It is not far from my house, but in the very part of the neighborhood where, not too long ago, driving through, one always used to lock the car doors and keep an eye out for the pimps and dealers with their gats – the very scary part of town. Everything there is newish and respectable now – the pimps are gone, the dealers have moved a few blocks south, but this one restaurant remains from the bad old days. We felt a little frisson of daring. I wanted only a tiny thing to eat, and he wanted real lunch. “Who’s paying,?” I asked, knowing full well that he had paid last time. “I think it’s your turn,” he said. Had our lunches been more equal, I would have just paid. However, “It’s my birthday,” I announced. Was I not naughty? He was horrified. How could he have forgotten! Of course he would pay. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten. What luck that he had called. Yes indeed, it was good luck. I had a very pleasant outing and a nice lunch at a cute restaurant, not scary at all (except for the headless horseman pumpkin), and a fun time with a good friend.

PS Ana and Julie remembered, but those aunties - so far, at least, did not!!! I had better call and remind them or they will be upset.

Birthday blog

I got up rather grumpy because I was sure no one would notice my birthday. Rachael and I had our usual Rachael-getting-ready-for-school chat, and she didn’t mention it. She is not a natural early riser and is always rather fussed in the morning when she has to rush. She left, and I knew that Rebecca was working and wouldn’t be able to call. My aunt called but didn’t mention the importance of the day. I was resigned to go to work uncelebrated. But then Samos called and said we could go to the conservatory and then lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant. This cheered me greatly. Here is a picture of our Indian lunch and the nan which the waiter gave me special for my birthday. Samos brought me some Kinderseife – my favorite soap which, sadly, is no longer made. This soap has a sort of secret meaning (rather like the Turkish Delight and Junior Mints mentioned in an earlier entry,) so it was a very nice present! Then I got a packet from my friend Sabine all the way from Germany. I decided to open it later in the bosom of my family when we gather to celebrate on Saturday. Then Rachael called, horrified that she had forgotten earlier in the day. I got an email from Rebecca at work, so I felt loved after all. All in all, a fun morning, and a much nicer one than I ever expected.