Richard’s surprise party was last Sunday night. One of the participants offered to order and pick up the cake for me, and also deliver it to the restaurant. When I asked how he’d like to be repaid, he said by check. While writing the check out to him, it occurred to me I haven’t been writing many checks lately. Actually, I haven’t been writing checks for quite awhile. All the transactions I do these days are either on my phone or on my laptop it seems. Like the slowly disappearing landlines, exchanging money in paper form will probably soon be as obsolete as the floppy disc. Some of you, the younger group, are now sitting there thinking “floppy discs”? My son wanted to exchange funds with me recently. I suggested depositing the money directly in my bank account to which he texted “??????”, as if I’d suggested he cut up the funds and throw the pieces out in the street. Next he texted Zelle or Venmo? To this text I replied, “Paypal”? He came back with, “is Paypal still even a thing”? I don’t know, is it? What is the thing? Just when I begin to get whatever the current in thing is, they come up with a new thing to take it’s place and I have to start my learning curve all over again. Like my cellphone before I removed the plastic protective shield, Paypal was probably obsolete before it went public. Sigh.
The party was a great success. There were eighteen of us seated at the table. The venue was a favorite Mexican restaurant of ours not far from the house. Thankfully, we had reservations, because people were standing outside in the rain waiting for a table to open up when we pulled in. Inside was so packed it created an atmosphere bordering on controlled chaos. There were several large parties celebrating birthdays such as ourselves, and every table was filled. Unbeknownst to me when I made the reservations, Sunday night is a very popular night to eat there because the mariachis perform. Oh. So, the strolling musicians were belting out El Son De La Negra with trumpets blaring while waiters called out orders over our heads and margaritas flowed liberally to nearly every table. The look on Richard’s face when he saw everyone at the table made it worthwhile. He seemed very pleased everyone showed up to help him celebrate add another candle to his cake. The cake, though beautifully decorated, was a whole different story. It was massive, the top covered in frosting flowers. When cut, it displayed about ten layers inside. Unfortunately, as pretty as it was to look at, it wasn’t nearly as appealing to eat. I’ve said frequently, I don’t eat sweets as a rule. I’m sure it’s a genetic defect, but I’m simply not much for sugar. People seem to find this, at the very least odd, and some find it totally off putting. That being said, I don’t advertise this piece of information about me when I go out unless someone asks. I had decided since I’d shelled out nearly one whole Ben Franklin for this impressive confection, I was going to at least have to taste it. Pfffft. The frosting, though it looked satiny and fluffy enough, had been made with Crisco. To my palette, and just about everyone else’s at the table, this type of icing leaves an aftertaste in your mouth like you’ve just licked a spoon dipped it in vegetable oil. Ewwwww. The rest of the meal was wonderful, however, and everyone seemed to have a good time.
I’m not a huge fan of surprise parties truth be known. When I was engaged to my first husband, my bridesmaids, friends and family threw me three bridal showers, the last which was a surprise. My fiance was tasked with keeping me out of the way during the day, so the ladies could set things up for the shower. Being a man, he came up with the idea of taking me to the beach. Not that the ocean isn’t a fabulous choice of locations mind you, it’s my favorite, it was just not particularly a good choice that day. I came home sunburned, hair full of sand, and wearing a bathing suit top, cutoffs and flip flops only to open the door to find a gorgeously decorated room full of beautifully dressed women. Seeing them all sitting there immediately prompted me to tears. As I wasn’t dressed for company, everyone had to sit there while I took a shower and cleaned up. Once presentable, the party went on without a hitch (no wedding pun intended). I remember my maid of honor had purchased cupcakes from a local baker that were so lovely. Each cupcake had a perfectly shaped rose on the top in the three colors reflective of my wedding. Not only did they look beautiful on the table, but they were delicious, as decadent pastries should be, when you popped one in your mouth.
I have to say, I am about partied out and it’s only February. Whew. I’m still not completely over the crest of the hill after COVID and RSV paid me a visit over the holidays. My usual Energizer Bunny stamina, though on a steady upturn, isn’t as robust as it might be normally. I have a while now to store up before anything new shows up on the calendar. The next major holiday isn’t until St. Patrick’s Day in the middle of March. Blessedly, all I have to do for that day is show up with my bib in place and sit down at the table to enjoy a corned beef dinner. After that the steady calendar year of highlighted events begins in earnest as the thermometer begins to climb upward. Easter is the next big celebration day. Though created as a religious holiday, if you look on the store shelves, it seems to be all about the bunny. We have only one little one among us these days, who is five and a half. For him, it is all about gathering the hidden eggs and biting the heads off chocolate bunnies. I was in Home Goods yesterday, my happy place, and the shelves were bulging with spring. Bunnies and chicks of all shapes and sizes adorned plates, serving dishes, pillows, and anything else you could imagine. Lovely wreathes of spring flowers hung on displays, and the feeling that winter was on the way out gave me a lift in my walk. Fall being at the top of my seasonal favorites, winter is perhaps at the bottom. Though I don’t find gray days depressing, like many people I know, after a while I do find myself longing for the trees to begin to bud and small bits of color to begin to push there way through the sprigs on my garden plants. Personally, I think the creator or creators of our world, should have stopped with spring and fall, and left it at that. Those two seasons are perfect to my mind, with little need for dour winter or perspiration inducing summer poking their noses in between them. Although I do like a touch of snow now and again, at least to look at, I am long past the need to have it fall in my yard and have to be shoveled to allow me to get my car out in the morning or to lie in the sun and soak up some skin cancer like I did when I was younger.
Also on the agenda this year will be the much touted elections. Candidates and issues will be the topic of conversation around the water cooler most of the year I would imagine. With all the power struggles going on in the two parties we currently have representing us, it makes me long for a third party option. We could call it the Rational Party, a party based on common sense, the needs of the voting population, and some good old solid thinking. Perhaps it is too lofty a concept for Washingtonians to embrace. Baby steps.
I have a feeling personally this will be a year of many changes in my world. I can feel the shifting sands below my feet as surely as if the phenomenon was actually occurring, rather than only a metaphor. There are many doors that could potentially open and close as the year progresses. As always, I will be interested to see how my story writes itself. Work is a door, or at least working at this particular job, is a door that could possibly close for me. I love the people here but if I should decide to move in with Richard, driving here from Richard’s wouldn’t be cost effective for only two days a week. That one, I would have to weigh along with so many other things before making such a decision.
For the past month they have been doing Employee Spirit Friday’s here at work. The first two weeks centered around Valentine’s Day. The first Friday it was color your hair in Valentine’s Color. I did not get the memo on this, so I did not participate. The following Friday it was wear Valentine Colors Day. Missed that one too. Today is Wear Your Favorite Plaid Shirt Day (don’t ask me why). I have one plaid shirt which would comfortably accommodate two of me with room to spare. Not wanting to be out of step again, I dragged it out and washed and ironed it. I know! My little legs tucked in my leggings under this voluminous top gives me to look of an olive hovering over two toothpicks. Ah well. Guess what? I got to work and I am the only one in a plaid shirt. Now I’m stuck in this all day. At least I’m the automatic winner of the spirit prize and I get my picture, no matter how unfortunate I might look, in the bulletin.
So, I hope your Valentine’s Day was special. It’s the weekend, can’t be all bad. Talk soon.
With all the new technology and “easy” ways to make payment, I still don’t understand why banks claim they need time to clear money. Cynically, it’s not so much about cybersecurity but about the small profits to be made on minuscule interest payments for the time when the money isn’t “mine” but theirs…
The party looked great.
You’re right about that. Also, the interest they provide you for the privilege of using your money is so miniscule as to go unnoticed. Party was moist fun.