Friend's special birthday a celebration for all attendees
There are many special birthdays over the years. Some come to mind immediately — baby's first birthday, the 21st, the 50th! The 50th usually comes with lots of jokes and kidding.
My dear Baheej grew up in a culture where people didn't celebrate birthdays, or even really talk about age. But they respected elders. He came here to study and became an American citizen. And we married. Here he enjoyed birthdays, including his own, which I always made a fuss over with gifts and his favorite foods. He died 11 years ago, but I still celebrate his birthday. I digress.
Two weeks ago, I went to a special birthday party for my friend Karen. It was really something — a big gathering of family and friends, all happy and heartwarming. And I was lucky to be included.
First of all, it was an hour northeast of my place. But her grandson Dawson picked me up. Very kind.
We started out at Karen's home with part of her family assembled there as well as her two dachshunds, Cubby Bear and Heidi. It was a fun start to the celebration. Son, grandsons, a nice and smart girlfriend — all friendly and very welcoming. Then off to the party venue we went.
Her daughter Sandy and son Randy planned, organized and hosted the party. And they did a wonderful job. It was very festive and delicious. They sent out the invitations to all of us, arranged the venue, all the food and decorations. They are great organizers.
Karen is an expert bowler and has many bowling friends, so they held the party at the bowling alley where she goes. The party started in a party room, and then we went to the lanes for a bowling demo by Karen and her friends. I watched from the spectator cheering gallery with other friends.
Then we proceeded back to the large party room for an inviting buffet meal with Italian beef, rolls, pasta, big salad, pizza — lots of tasty food — and huge cake.
We took lots of photos and had plenty of time to talk and meet people. A big group of family and many friends were there enjoying themselves.
Afterward, I went with Karen and her family back to her house to sit and talk for a while. It was a fun day and great party.
The point is: These special birthdays are important milestones, and not just for the birthday person, but for all the friends and family. This one was certainly done up right!
The next day Karen texted me with a photo of a good-luck charm I had inadvertently dropped in the chair where I was sitting at her house. I told her to just keep it. Good luck is good!
• Susan Anderson-Khleif of Sleepy Hollow has a doctorate in family sociology from Harvard, taught at Wellesley College and is a retired Motorola executive. Contact her at sakhleif@comcast.net or see her blog longtermgrief.tumblr.com. See previous columns at www.dailyherald.com/topics/Anderson-Kleif-Susan.