The Sage Connection

It’s my birthday month!

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It’s my birthday month. I only take a week of it because seven other members of my family celebrate birthdays this month and three of them are in the same week. Sucks to be them.

So, as I was saying, I have my own week. During this time, I may treat myself to a little shopping or a trip to the spa, lunch or dinner with friends, but mostly I remember other birthdays past. And  I have had some great ones.

Perhaps the best of all was when I turned 40. I lived in my little tiny town of Sunol, California, with about 400+ others. And God knows we loved a good party. Almost all of us got a surprise party every year. How was this possible, you ask? We were a very creative bunch.

The night before I turned 40, I was working in the little town café when the front door opened and  a magnificent “Miss Piggy” cake arrived, with candles lit and singing broke out from the customers. All of them seemed to have known this would happen.

At the time, I was a big fan of Miss Piggy. My kids still complain that no one was ever allowed to eat the cake. I might still have it somewhere.

On my actual birthday, the following day, the plan was to go out to dinner with friends, so when they arrived, I was not surprised…until I opened the door and saw them.

Parked in front of my house was a convertible, top down, and a crowd of familiar faces in the yard, dressed in various colorful and outrageous costumes. My favorite was the Major Domo in his red flannels. I was escorted to the back seat of the car, where a red velvet robe was placed around my shoulders and a crown upon my head.

It was a birthday parade.

Now in my tiny little town there was one main street, one block long. On one side of this street were two bars, a mom-and-pop grocery store (much like the mini-marts of today), a hay and feed store, railroad tracks, the town café, my house and two others. On the other side of the street was an empty lot, the post office, a duplex, gas station and the elementary school.

This would be our route.

Friends and neighbors who were not in the parade and bar patrons lined the street and waved and cheered as we drove by. We drove up and down the street four times, since it was a short block, and then everyone gathered at my house for a potluck.

Great fun.

The night after I turned 40, I was supposed to tend bar at one of the bars. When I arrived, however, the bar manager was behind the bar, there was a granny cake with sagging boobs on the shuffle board and a bunch of customers singing off key.

I was given the night off but didn’t stay too late. As I explained to everyone, I was 40 now and couldn’t keep up.

By the time I turned 50, I owned that little café. A surprise party was held there for me. I am pretty sure I had a good time that night too, because the next morning I found my shoes in the refrigerator.

My 60th birthday surprise arrived in the form of a young man who had worked for me at The Hotel LaMore/Bisbee Inn, in Bisbee Arizona. He had flown to Austin

Texas, where I was living at that time, with tickets for us to attend a Cher Concert.

Actually, that year I was only 59, but being a big Cher fan, wisely kept my mouth shut.

For my 70th birthday my kids bought me a rocking chair. I guess hope springs eternal.

Now I can hear my boss, the editor, whispering in my ear, nice column, Kathleen, but what does it have to do with Olympia, Lacey or Tumwater?

Well, Boss, I am in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater now. And if I invite you to a party you are going to want to come? Just askin’!

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.  

Editor's Note:  I wouldn't miss it! 

Comments

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  • SheriB

    I love a woman who knows how to celebrate herself!

    Happy Birthday month. Wishing you another spectacular week, or month, but especially the next year!

    Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Report this

  • Drutty

    Happy Birthday~! Celebrate whenever you can~!

    Friday, March 11, 2022 Report this