Birthday Bonanza: A Feast with Friends

On Saturday night, I had yet another birthday celebration, this time with friends over dinner at my favorite restaurant. Sure, it was vegetarian. Sure, it can be hard to find (and off our normal track). But several people came and we had a great time. I'd emailed them all about the quirks of the place--the unique ordering system, the bus-your-own-table m.o., even some of my favorite foods on the ever-changing menu--and so everything was smooth. We had three tables and pretty much the whole restaurant. We ate minestrone, French onion, Czech mushroom and potato, porcini and cream, and even parmesan rind soup. There were plates and plates of oatmeal bread. Plus several marinated tofu salads and house green salads. Then the entrees: Thai "chicken," solianka (a deconstructed stuffed cabbage dish), quinoa and mash with tomato gravy, I forget what else. And Chocolate Devastation cake, pumpkin bourbon ice cream with hot fudge, ditto persimmon ice cream, orange-hazelnut cake, and cranberry kissel with cream. Lots of good conversation, split between my playgroup buddies, my church friends, and my PT, most of whom have met at various parties at my house. Because I can't sit for long, I wandered among the tables able to chat with most everyone. Five "yes" RSVPs didn't show, mostly from this stomach bug which is creeping around the region. So we missed them but had a good time, chatting with the owner Selma, perusing the bookstore, sampling chocolates, reading the political posters. And there were gifts which they all kindly and generously brought--books and magazines and videos, coffees and teas, cups and mugs, cookies and candies, picture frames and candles and scarves and soaps, and different gift cards, all thoughtful things--which I didn't open (from time, space, and shyness, I think, though I'm beginning to realize, belatedly, that it's always best to open in front of people--it's more fun and meaningful for everyone) until we got home, late, after a drive along the water. And so the thank-you notes are in the mail, not even primarily for the gifts or the celebration, but for our friendships.