Here
at 39AHC we believe every birthday
should be celebrated with equal pomp and circumstance. However, before we
arrived at this mature state of mind …
PAR – TY! Ah yes, the good ol’ days. When we thought aging
was for old people and birthdays were simply the BEST reason to party hearty.
I
won’t deny it … I partied through the 1980s and loved every minute of it. I danced
my way around many a nightclub and concert. Rock, R&B, a
little smoooooth Jazz, and
yes even some Disco. But somewhere towards
the end of that festive decade I also turned … yipes! The big 4-0.
Single,
at my best weight (I’ll never see that
again), and livin’ in San Diego
just begs for a blowout 40th birthday. And my girlfriends done me proud!
It
was a surprise party. Of course, I knew something
was up – none of them had been available that day and no one called with birthday wishes. :-(
Finally, Karen phoned and offered to take me for a Happy Hour libation,
stammering some lame excuse for the others’ absence.
“Corporate
networkers” at the time and a Saturday night, we dressed to kill in the “little
black dress” miniskirts, and headed out. Karen was a little obscure about our
final destination … I didn’t care. Let’s party!
We
arrived at Bully’s, Del Mar’s most elite
and beloved steakhouse. Not only does it offer (still, today) mouthwatering
prime rib, it’s a “place to be seen” in San Diego County. I thought, maybe,
just maybe, the others, Stephanie, Cindy, and Pam, would be eagerly waiting. I scanned
the tables in the low-light main room; saw a few familiar faces to wave at, but
no party girls.
Karen led the way – all the way through the restaurant to
the screened outdoor party room in the back. “What the … ?”
And
there they were … with another twenty or so of our favorite party people,
jumping up and down! Shots, balloons, and cake were plentiful; and while that
surprise was super fun, it was nothing compared to the male stripper who paraded in
about a half hour later. Yes, they really did that.
But wait! There's more ...
The
funniest part of the stripper scene however, was the crowd reaction. Bully’s
can be noisy, but a refined, cultured sort of noise. Remember when I said the
party room was “screened”? That meant everything we did was visible to the
patrons dining in the main restaurant area.
And
let me tell you, ALL of the women (and probably a few guys) were surreptitiously
peeking at his performance. I had more fun watching their faces. (Well, when I
wasn’t fully engrossed …) I don’t think Bully’s was ever the same.
My point here though,
isn’t to revel in old memories. I thoroughly enjoyed that birthday after dreading
it for days, weeks, months before; but my fiftieth and then sixtieth birthdays were
the gloomiest. They occurred without fanfare at an age when I kind of wish more
had been made of them.
Back to att-i-tude ...
If
you find yourself in that state of mind about any birthday, give it some
sincere reflection, but don’t wallow in your self-pity or morose thoughts. LIVE!!!!
Even if it must be alone. Whether by choice or necessity I’ve spent some of my
best birthdays pampering myself and reveling in solitude – complete with cake
and/or champagne.
I
wish I had understood myself as well at fifty as I do now. I let that milestone
slip by without giving it its due. And now I realize that EVERY birthday should
be a celebrated milestone. That we even make it one more day is cause for
celebration – so another year should evoke downright euphoria.
Let’s
do it. For the next birthday of those close to you regardless of age – even
your own – make a big deal of it. Or really, how long has it been since you showed
them how much they mean to you? Make them feel special TODAY.
Then
on those “milestone” birthdays, go the extra
mile … get the stripper. Heehee.
Cheers!
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