Birthday Party Surprises!

I am still reeling from the shock of the surprise birthday party Friday night. Family and friends gathered to congratulate, tease, cajole, sing, and laugh at my stunned expression. My daughter had convinced me that we were meeting for a "private, members only" wine tasting last Friday night in the back room of Macklind Deli. I checked the website and saw that there was a wine tasting, open to the public on Saturday, 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. When I asked my daughter if she was inviting her brother and his girlfriend (newly arrived from Seattle, Washington), she wrinkled up her face and said,"Dad, it is for members only!"

When I arrived, I went to the counter and asked Dick the owner, "Where is the private wine tasting event?". He politely replied that it was the next day and I was a day early. I said that my daughter had invited me and it was a private event. He again apologized and pointed out that the wine tasting on Saturday was open to the public.

Dazed and confused (like the movie of the same name), I turned around and spied my children down the hall, through the open double doors in the party room. I strode into the room and when I saw the throng of people and the over-the-top decorations, I realized it was a surprise birthday party for me! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

My friends cover a wide range of nationalities: Asian, African-American, gay and soon-to-be-trans-gendered. They range from youthful (several brought children) to "young at heart". The eldest in age (the landlords from my daughter's first apartment in South St Louis) assisted her with party logistics. Art loudly proclaimed that the candle numerals upside down could be used again for my ninetieth birthday, while his lovely wife of fifty years, Jenny, did a Sally Rand imitation with the huge crepe-paper sunflower table decorations.

The food was excellent, including three kinds of deli sandwiches, potato salad, seven layer dip (spicy!) with crackers, gooey butter cake, pretzels, and chocolate lava cake with maraschino cherries. This cake had a tall "fence" around the outside of dark chocolate pieces. It was from Hampton Bakery and the baker there jumped up and down with glee when it was ordered because he had never made a chocolate cake decorated with so many maraschino cherries.

Sodas were provided and guests bought their own libations from the well stocked coolers of Macklind Deli. My son insisted that I open my gifts because I "made them do it" in front of everyone when they were little. Too many to mention, especially the funny cards (singing hamsters, anyone?), but they included a huge jar of Spanish olives (my favorite for martinis), wine, and the gag-cup of "must haves for being over the hill", like "Lost Your Marbles Replacement Pack" and prune gum.

When my thank you speech went more than 60 seconds, Jenny suggested that I "use that hot air to blow out the candles now so we can have cake". My restaurateur friends told stories about me, one so ribald that their wives blushed. My New Age friends met each other (some for the first time) and promised to have a "card reading" get-together. My gay friends met each other (some for the first time) and promptly formed a "support group" so they would have an excuse to party again. We distributed food and decorations at the end to whomever wanted them---some of the sandwiches went to recently arrived Saudi Arabian students and some of the brightly colored decorations were donated to a shelter in the City.

I am still reeling from the shock of my surprise birthday party. Pleasant memories will linger as I celebrate my birthday all over again on Valentine's Day.