Today my aunt turns
88. My Faster Jonna’s birthday always
heralded the beginning of the Christmas season; the first of the decorations
would come out as she celebrated her birthday with family and friends. I learned how to advertise my own birthday
from her! We are each other’s biggest
fans.
Some decades ago my mother and I
happened to be in Denmark in the middle of November so the happy chance led us
to celebrate my aunt’s birthday at the same time as the Beaujolais Nouveau
arrived. Until this very moment I always
believed Beaujolais Nouveau was the 15th of November. No, it is actually the third Thursday of
November so this year it will be on the 17th.
Who doesn’t love to celebrate? There is something exciting in the air when a
party is coming on and for me, the more fanfare, the better. This past weekend I had the pleasure of
attending a Debutante celebration in the Philippine style. When a Philippino daughter turns 18 she has a
huge celebration and it is really something to behold. We entered the room to the splendour of a
Winter Masquerade Theme, the tables and chairs were all covered in white;
elegant white and blue masks decorated as centerpieces on all the tables, with
shiny mirrors and little pebbles strewn for effect. There was a white backdrop on the stage,
large face masks of white and blue and silver hanging decoratively with a
fantastic castle display made of 3 cakes with little arches and fairy rooms to
astonish the eye as the focal point.
There was a grand march with the
family entering the room, elegantly gowned and suited, wearing fancy eye masks
until the debutante entered the room in a lovely tulle ballgown of shades of
blue, aqua and green and carrying a really fancy, feathered eye mask on a wand. Later in the evening Aimee, the debutante
danced several dances along with her friends with as much elegance as the
Dancing with the Stars celebrities. It was
very well done but this little lady deserved such a fine celebration as she is
a wonderful daughter, a fine scholar and a great friend, as 18 of her peers
came up to tell their story of friendship with admiration and love. It was very touching.
I know it’s hard to wake up every
morning with a little celebration in our hearts but just recalling the party
from Saturday night has lifted my spirits this morning. I hope you have a good memory that you can
call to mind to cheer you up while you are sitting in painful traffic this
morning. It beats cursing at the
thoughtless ones who have caused the accidents by rushing along icy roads.
Slow down, smell the icicles and
laugh.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY FASTER JONNA!
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