Cripes, Suzette!: This Is How We Do It

Wow! I haven't had a birthday like this since I was 8 years old.

Seafood on the ocean for supper. An array of fabulous gifts. A surprise floral delivery from California from a little boy who now is a man. Treated to a Kung Po luncheon. A festive cake. Serandaded 6 times in person, by telephone, voice mail and intercom. People I haven't heard from in three years popping in to wish me well on my birthday.

Witness:

This is New Jersey, people.The weather was perfect for eating supper on the patio right next to the boardwalk. This is a cellphone shot taken during a lull between the King Crab Oreganato and The Angry Lobster. Where are your Soprano and turnpike jokes now? It's as good as being in Laguna Beach only we don't have to pump our own gas.

Happy is she who has raised a real man who remembers his mother's birthday without prompting and is excited about surprising her with a thoughtful present. I am a rich woman.

The youngest member of the family turns out to be the actual Birthday Fairy. She does, as she puts it, "pay attention". Here is her hand at work:

a DVD of Pride and Prejudice. I mentioned this so long ago that even I forgot about it. I hope it rains over the weekend so we can hunker down and watch this straight through. Otherwise I shall be sorely vexed. It would be too much to be borne if the sun was out and I had to make a choice.
The Jet As Art. Wow - I wish you could see the beautiful photography in this book. It's so much better than I anticipated. Requires study - expect to hear about it again.
a cordless illuminated flamingo. On at dusk/off at dawn.
a homemade Tre Leches cake ablaze with some diplomatically chosen candles that avoid the indelicate "how many?" question.

"I'm Mr. Darcy - Fly Me."
Okie dokie, Mr. Darcy!

I bet you don't have one, do you?
Your light-up flamingo probably has a cord.

And one to grow on - there were actually four leches involved in this cake.
I was so focused on working up enough wind to blow these all out that I forgot to make a wish. If it's not too late, let me make it now: I hope everyone of you has a birthday celebration this good.

FYI - The Thursday Night Martini Club definetly has to relocate to the place where we had the birthday dinner. It's only about 4 miles away from our usual spot and it has an outdoor bar, live music and an ocean. Of course, we'll have to get there at 2 in the afternoon to get a seat, but everything is a trade off, is it not?

If we do move there, the Thursday Night Martini Club might have to have a seasonal change in designation. Just call us the Thursday Night Steamed Clams and Cold Beer Club.