View From My World...: Ushering in a New Decade

Turning 70 is like the new 50 …or so we like to think. Turning 70 does sound old and as our dear friend Mary Rojas wrote to Art this week,” you just want people to look at you and say, you certainly don’t look 70!” I watched Art all day March 6^th amazed at how gracefully he transitioned into this new decade. I wonder how I will handle it when my turn comes.

This second milestone of 2015 came right on the heels of our 40^th wedding anniversary in February, which we did not celebrate because of an ice storm in Asheville. (We will mark the 40th with a special trip to Portugal in May.) So Art’s 70th birthday called for something special here and now.

I invited three couples for dinner on Friday night, choosing some of our favorite people who really appreciate and love Art. They came as FOA’s…friends of Art, which has now become a private joke amongst all who came to the party. I spent the week pouring over recipes, buying the ingredients at 4 to 5 different grocery stores which one tends to do in this “foodie” town of Asheville. As the most special part of the dinner I ordered a Karen Donatelli birthday cake from the French bakery downtown. (Hayden & Jessica’s wedding cake was designed and made by Karen Donatelli.)

I shopped for more champagne flutes and stemmed water glasses, ironed the white table cloth, and got out Mother’s delicate flowered English china of which there is enough to serve 24 guests. I set a spectacular table with a centerpiece of fresh yellow tulips in a Waterford crystal vase, compliments of Trader Joe’s.

Early on Friday Art went with me for last minute shopping and while checking out at Trader Joe’s he asked the clerk, “Are there any promotions for people having birthdays today?” I looked at him in surprise. “Sure,” said the clerk without batting an eye “We could give you some flowers…” We came home with the yellow tulips.

Art had been enjoying the various birthday emails popping up during his day on Friday such as a free car wash from the Honda dealer. We had a good laugh at the email from Medicare offering him a free visit to an obesity clinic for his birthday! So I suppose he was on a roll with his promotions and just carried it right into TJ”s.

We picked up the chocolate amaretto cake elaborately decorated with ganache, raspberries, blackberries, and chocolate dipped strawberries. I could not resist taking a photo and posting it on Facebook. An outpouring of “likes” and “comments” ensued on my FB page from Manila, to Abu Dhabi, to Jakarta to Asuncion…from Vermont to all over the US. I kept sharing them throughout the day with Art who is totally clueless about FB but loves it when I share photos and comments from people we’ve known for years all over the world. He kept exclaiming “Imagine everyone all over the world thinking of me today…all because you put up that cake photo on FB!” He was tickled.

Art was in rare form during his party, so excited to be celebrating in a big way with all his FOA’s. Our evening was full of many loving toasts, the most eloquent from Art himself who thanked everyone for making his day so special…and for me, of course. The Prosecco flowed, followed by the dinner starting with an Arugula and (fresh) Pear Salad, Baked Salmon with a Caper Cream Sauce, Fresh Asparagus with Toasted Pine Nuts and Basmati Rice with herbs. The cake was sensational…light and not too sweet. Art swiftly blew out 7 candles representing 70 imaginary ones. The birthday dinner was a complete success.

Most of all it was a joy to see Art so content enjoying his celebration more than anyone.

“It was not just another low keyed birthday,” he to me later. “I never realized how big a milestone this is”.

Perhaps from now on each and every birthday should be extra special as twe enter a new decade of our lives.