MUSING #35
It’s happened, folks. Early this morning, a few minutes after midnight, on October 19th, I officially hit the Big 80!
It’s happened, folks. Early this morning, a few minutes after midnight, on October 19th, I officially hit the Big 80!
I don’t feel a day older, in fact, I feel great.
This has been an unbelievable weekend, full of love, laughs and lots of family and good friends. Actually, it all started more than a week ago when my daughter Andrea arrived to celebrate her 40th high school reunion. That started the trip down memory lane that extended right through this morning when I delivered my friend Judy to the airport for her return trip to Connecticut. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
Andrea and I kept reconnecting with different periods in our lives. Hers started with her two day high school reunion, meeting up with people she actually hadn’t seen in 40 years. According to her old friend, Paul Goeld, she rated in the “Top Five” of all the female returnees. Three women, two of whom she didn’t remember, informed her she had been “mean to them in high school because she never talked to them,” and five graying and balding men confessed to having mad crushes on her in those years. Andrea protested to the women that she was not mean and her aloofness was because she was very shy. A likely story. As for the men. . you’ll have to ask her.
On Tuesday evening Benard, Andrea and I gathered at the bar in my apartment to practice making my favorite drink, the Sour Apple Martini. I was determined to serve
them at the cocktail party we were throwing for a few hundred of Andrea’s and Adam’s old friends on Friday evening. Since Benard was to be the designated bartender at the party, we felt it was necessary to perfect the recipe before springing the concoction on our guests. It took three separate batches to get the drink exactly right after which three very bombed “tasters” went their separate ways: Andrea immediately fell asleep. Benard went to his condo board meeting and doesn’t remember what he voted on, and I have no recollection of what I did. I believe it was the stems on the maraschino cherries that did us in.
Friday afternoon, Adam and Amy arrived from Jacksonville with great-grand-dog Layla. Grove Isle doesn’t allow dogs over 25 lbs on the island and Layla, while svelte and girlish, is definitely pushing the envelope in that department. Fortunately, on my "approved list " of non-terrorist types in the gatehouse computer, Layla Anker - small dog, is listed right under Adam and Amy Anker. When Adam patiently pointed this out to the guard at the gate, who initially refused them admittance, they were whisked through without further ado. The good news is that the only person the guard could complain to about her obvious non-small size was the condo’s head of security. . .who just happens to be Benard. Also arriving on Friday afternoon, my very special friend Judy, who has celebrated birthdays with me since we met at the age of six.
Friday night’s cocktail party was a total hoot and I don’t mind telling you that the Sour Apple Martini’s were such a giant hit that Benard had to eventually post a “sold out” sign when we ran out of Pucker, the stuff that makes them green. Adam reconnected with his friend Andy from high school days. Amongst the throng of guests was one delicious six month old baby, courtesy of the Forman family, one adorable four year old great-grand niece courtesy of parents Ana and Craig, one very well behaved, slightly overwhelmed dog and two dumbfounded cats who never came out of the closet, not to mention approximately 25 others including Amy’s parents, Al and Robyn, who drove down from Fort Lauderdale. Everyone talked like crazy, drank and ate up a storm until late in the evening. The vibe was excellent.
Saturday dawned and late morning we assembled out by the Grove Isle waterfront for the family photo shoot, with Benard wielding the camera and Judy in charge of Layla (when she wasn't in the pictures). When the 90 degree heat proved impossible, we retired to our building lobby and finished up the shoot there. Good results! See photos above.
OK. It’s Saturday evening and time for "Queen For A Day" to have her moment. And what a moment it was. Hosted by Benard, Andrea, Adam and Amy, and held in a private room at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Miami called “Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita”, we were 24 in number and it was a spectacular evening. . .first lots of drinks and tapas, then a sit down dinner. Andrea acted as MC with Amy and Adam joining her to note my penchant for writing poems for every family occasion, and turning the tables by writing an “ode” to me. It was hilarious and I loved every second.
After the main course it was Benard’s turn to toast (or roast?), I’m not sure exactly which. He was equally terrific, noting at one point my insistence during the early years of our relationship that he learn to love pro football and particularly the Miami Dolphins. When I patiently tried to explain what a tight end was, he thought I was talking dirty. He also noted we will be celebrating 15 years together on November 2nd. Wow! Time flies when you are having fun.
OK, enough. Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes and great comments. This is the last of the blogs under this heading. I can’t believe I started this more than 6 months ago when I really was 79 ½. Don’t give up on me. . .I’ll probably be back. . it’s been great fun.
# # # #
Photo captions: One of the family photos. / The birthday girl with her tiara and wand, a gift from the Sandstroms.
This has been an unbelievable weekend, full of love, laughs and lots of family and good friends. Actually, it all started more than a week ago when my daughter Andrea arrived to celebrate her 40th high school reunion. That started the trip down memory lane that extended right through this morning when I delivered my friend Judy to the airport for her return trip to Connecticut. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
Andrea and I kept reconnecting with different periods in our lives. Hers started with her two day high school reunion, meeting up with people she actually hadn’t seen in 40 years. According to her old friend, Paul Goeld, she rated in the “Top Five” of all the female returnees. Three women, two of whom she didn’t remember, informed her she had been “mean to them in high school because she never talked to them,” and five graying and balding men confessed to having mad crushes on her in those years. Andrea protested to the women that she was not mean and her aloofness was because she was very shy. A likely story. As for the men. . you’ll have to ask her.
On Tuesday evening Benard, Andrea and I gathered at the bar in my apartment to practice making my favorite drink, the Sour Apple Martini. I was determined to serve
them at the cocktail party we were throwing for a few hundred of Andrea’s and Adam’s old friends on Friday evening. Since Benard was to be the designated bartender at the party, we felt it was necessary to perfect the recipe before springing the concoction on our guests. It took three separate batches to get the drink exactly right after which three very bombed “tasters” went their separate ways: Andrea immediately fell asleep. Benard went to his condo board meeting and doesn’t remember what he voted on, and I have no recollection of what I did. I believe it was the stems on the maraschino cherries that did us in.
Friday afternoon, Adam and Amy arrived from Jacksonville with great-grand-dog Layla. Grove Isle doesn’t allow dogs over 25 lbs on the island and Layla, while svelte and girlish, is definitely pushing the envelope in that department. Fortunately, on my "approved list " of non-terrorist types in the gatehouse computer, Layla Anker - small dog, is listed right under Adam and Amy Anker. When Adam patiently pointed this out to the guard at the gate, who initially refused them admittance, they were whisked through without further ado. The good news is that the only person the guard could complain to about her obvious non-small size was the condo’s head of security. . .who just happens to be Benard. Also arriving on Friday afternoon, my very special friend Judy, who has celebrated birthdays with me since we met at the age of six.
Friday night’s cocktail party was a total hoot and I don’t mind telling you that the Sour Apple Martini’s were such a giant hit that Benard had to eventually post a “sold out” sign when we ran out of Pucker, the stuff that makes them green. Adam reconnected with his friend Andy from high school days. Amongst the throng of guests was one delicious six month old baby, courtesy of the Forman family, one adorable four year old great-grand niece courtesy of parents Ana and Craig, one very well behaved, slightly overwhelmed dog and two dumbfounded cats who never came out of the closet, not to mention approximately 25 others including Amy’s parents, Al and Robyn, who drove down from Fort Lauderdale. Everyone talked like crazy, drank and ate up a storm until late in the evening. The vibe was excellent.
Saturday dawned and late morning we assembled out by the Grove Isle waterfront for the family photo shoot, with Benard wielding the camera and Judy in charge of Layla (when she wasn't in the pictures). When the 90 degree heat proved impossible, we retired to our building lobby and finished up the shoot there. Good results! See photos above.
OK. It’s Saturday evening and time for "Queen For A Day" to have her moment. And what a moment it was. Hosted by Benard, Andrea, Adam and Amy, and held in a private room at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Miami called “Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita”, we were 24 in number and it was a spectacular evening. . .first lots of drinks and tapas, then a sit down dinner. Andrea acted as MC with Amy and Adam joining her to note my penchant for writing poems for every family occasion, and turning the tables by writing an “ode” to me. It was hilarious and I loved every second.
After the main course it was Benard’s turn to toast (or roast?), I’m not sure exactly which. He was equally terrific, noting at one point my insistence during the early years of our relationship that he learn to love pro football and particularly the Miami Dolphins. When I patiently tried to explain what a tight end was, he thought I was talking dirty. He also noted we will be celebrating 15 years together on November 2nd. Wow! Time flies when you are having fun.
OK, enough. Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes and great comments. This is the last of the blogs under this heading. I can’t believe I started this more than 6 months ago when I really was 79 ½. Don’t give up on me. . .I’ll probably be back. . it’s been great fun.
# # # #
Photo captions: One of the family photos. / The birthday girl with her tiara and wand, a gift from the Sandstroms.
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