August 09, 2008
Three-plus decades later
So I turned 32 last Friday. My friend Rose told me I should have bought a lottery ticket, or gambled, because the numbers are perfectly lined up this year - triple 8. I actually started celebrating my birthday on Thursday by going out for drinks with a couple of friends at Capitol City Brewing Company in DC. After three tall glasses of Capitol Kolsch, and two hours of heavy conversation on life and love, we all headed for the Metro.
The husband had been really secretive about whether he had plans for my birthday. On Friday afternoon he told me we were going to Wegmans. Now, I love this supermarket (squeaky clean!), but crap, I didn't want to celebrate my birthday in a grocery store! Well, that turned out to be a ruse. Kevin actually planned a very nice dinner for us at Fogo de Chao. This is meatlover's paradise for you. Not only that, Kevin surprised me by inviting Rose and her husband to join us, and another wonderful couple who are longtime friends of his.
Now here's what's crazy. I was coming to terms with my being old-er that night and still got carded when I ordered a mojito. The waiter asked for my ID, looked at the year I was born, and in a semi-apologetic tone said, "Oh...it's your birthday." That happens every single time Kevin and I go out for drinks. I guess I should be flattered some people think I still need some kind of parental consent to consume alcohol. Here's what I learned that night though: It is not good to follow up a mojito with coffee spiked with Baileys. Not an ideal combo.
So I'm 32 and very happy. The husband really put a lot of thought into planning the surprise, and darn it, I'm a very lucky woman. The words that melted this old heart? "You were worth it." Awww... Having good friends is also a blessing and I am truly grateful to those who took the time to express their sweet thoughts via phone, text, email and IM.
My family started bombarding me with SMS on Thursday (which was already Friday in the Philippines). My nephew asked me how old I was, and when I told him I was turning 32, he said matter-of-factly, "You're really old." Gee, thanks! My mother and sister sent a couple of cards - and made it here on Friday! Wow. On top of that, I have the best in-laws in the world! My Nanay here sent me a basketful of bath products. I feel so pampered! The funniest thing I heard on my birthday was from my 10-year-old stepson Re'Sean. On Thursday he asked: "What do you want on your birthday?" Before I could respond, he quickly added, "Something that I can afford." Haha!
So I'm sending BIG Web-borne thank you to my sweet husband (for catering to my vanity), Re'Sean, my family here and in the Philippines, and my friends. You all made my passage to the exciting, age-defying (maybe) year of being 32 not only painless, but also fun and memorable. Salamat!