Birthday events
I had a perfect birthday. Even though we found out our pool pump leaks (probably has for years) and it was hot, hot, hot, it was a fantastic day.It started with a lovely note and a “contract” waiting for me by the coffee maker. Christopher, knowing I would probably wake first, left them for me. The “contract,” which did require a signature, stated that I was not allowed to worry about anything, especially the cost, of anything connected with my birthday and if I expressed any worry or guilt, C would be permitted to wreak revenge including his almost-lethal towel-snapping. I signed…a bit warily.
We went to Troy’s for breakfast–a Greek-American-owned family restaurant nearby with yummy basic diner-type breakfasts. I ate lightly, and I’m glad I did because not too long afterwards we went to the place we needed to go to for my birthday surprise: a spa/salon. C got us both facials and massages. Actually, his was partially paid for by me because I had given him a gift card for a massage a while ago, so I didn’t feel quite so over-indulged…money-wise, that is. I felt plenty over-indulged by the treatments. The massage was particularly fantastic–I’m actually a smidge sore today (must drink more water to get that lactic acid out of my system) because she did so well. The facial included a pumpkin-based skin peel and I think I could get hooked on those–my skin looks so much better today than it has lately! And I got to smell like pie in the process.
As we left the spa, I thanked C profusely and we drove home. The sun was beating on us with the top down, but the breeze from the motion of the car kept us from being over-heated. We still had a party to go to that evening, in an area where it’s usually 5-10 degrees hotter than where we live, and needed to get ready, but we had some time before we had to do that. Good thing too because after the treatments and the hot sun, I needed a few minutes to sit in the indoors/shade.I was sitting on the couch, cooling off and feeling totally relaxed, when C came over, kissed me a couple of times, and then made up for his relatively well-known (among my friends, at least) lousy original proposal.
I was stunned. Ring and everything…this time he got it very right.
After that, it was a wonder I was capable of effective speech. We still had to get some food and go to the party. C asked where I wanted to go for dinner, expecting me to mention a French restaurant I like, and I said “In-n-Out.” Somehow that just seemed right. He knew it too, after I mentioned it. One double-double animal style and a chocolate shake later, and off we went to the party.
The party was thrown by Rob and Jake, to celebrate (early) Rob’s 50th birthday and the completion (mostly) of their new bathroom and landscaping. Tiki-themed, thank heavens, so we could dress casually. Of course, it being their party, Rob and Jake barely dressed at all (they do have teeny bathing suits on in that picture). Christopher made a great hit with his gift to Rob–actually, it was the box for the gift that was such a hit. The gift was a simple tiki head, but C had designed the box around an imaginary product called Rob-o-Tiki, with references to other dolls in the collection like “Rob-o-Tiki Architect” and “Cowboy Rob-o-Tiki” with “Cowpoke Jake sold separately” etc. The list of disclaimers alone was great, including “Risk of explosion if subjected to Republican rants.”
I drank pink champagne at the party (my last gift–I had requested it days before, not knowing everything that C had already planned) and we had lots of fun being the only straight folks at the event (sometimes it’s fun to be in the minority). However we realized pretty early that we could not keep up with the other guests who are much better trained party-ers. Home we went.
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday and never would have planned one as well as C did. As I mentioned to my neighbor this morning, he’s earned himself a lot of free passes for forgotten chores or flaky behavior after that day. She said she completely understood–her husband was terrible with birthdays and gifts until he gave her a trip to Italy a couple of years ago–he’s still getting the benefits of that effort. 